Cal-breds Sizzling This Summer
July 11th, 2007California-bred runners are making a tremendous impact at the highest levels of racing this summer.
In an eight-day stretch from Saturday, June 30 to Saturday July 7, Cal-breds won four Grade 1 races, including three in one day on two coasts; broke a track record in winning a Grade 3 stakes at Monmouth Park and won a Grade 2 handicap at Hollywood Park.
Lava Man set the tone two Saturdays ago with his third consecutive victory in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). Idiot Proof broke the Monmouth Park record for six furlongs with an electrifying win in Wednesday’s $150,000 Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3). Somethinaboutlaura successfully defended her title in the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap (G2).
Then, last Saturday, Cal-breds captured three Grade 1 races at two tracks. At Hollywood Park, unbeaten Nashoba’s Key won the $300,000 Vanity Invitational Handicap (G1) for fillies and mares and Bilo won the $300,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap (G1). At Calder in Miami, River’s Prayer won the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap for fillies and mares.
“It is very obvious the past few years that our program has continued to provide the ample incentive for people to breed better Cal-breds,†said Doug Burge, executive vice president and general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “We had a record number of Grade 1 winners last year and are on course to break that again this year.â€
Lava Man is California’s newest favorite son, a winner of 17 of his 40 starts, with earnings of $5, 189,706, making him only the third Cal-bred to surpass $5 million in earnings. He is by Slew City Slew, out of the Nostalgia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Leonard, and was bred by Lonnie Arterburn, Eve Kuhlmann and Kim Kuhlmann. He is owned by STD Racing and Jason Wood.
Idiot Proof is by Benchmark, out of the Bertrando mare Perfectly Pretty and was bred by owners Marty and Pam Wygod. He has four wins in six starts and earnings of $237,272. The third choice in the wagering at odds of 4-1, he ran the six furlongs in a torrid 1:07.47, smashing the 15-year-old track record held by Guilded Time of 1:07.84.
Somethinaboutlaura is by Dance Floor, out of the It’s Freezing mare Crystals of Ice. She was bred by Lilley Ranch and is owned by Miller, Sikura, Todaro, et al. She has 15 wins in 27 starts, earnings of $913,315 and was coming off a win in the June 9 Redondo Beach Stakes.
Nashoba’s Key is by Silver Hawk, out of the Caerleon mare Nashoba and was bred by owner Warren Williamson. She has won all five of her starts and now has earnings of $443,460.
River’s Prayer is by Devon Lane, out of the Cozzene mare Cozzy Flyer and was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm. She is owned by Bantry Farms, Capestro and Martin Racing Stable. The $15,000 Barretts purchase ran her stakes win streak to four and now has eight wins in 15 starts and earnings of $816,758.
Bilo is by Bertrando, out of the Devil’s Bag mare Raffle’s Bag. He was bred by Ed Nahem and is owned by King Edward. He has six wins in 14 starts, earnings of $434,036 and was coming off a win in a June 10 optional claimer, when he could have been claimed for $62,500.
