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Harbor the Gold flattered by Oregon champion Catalina Harbor
A state championship trophy for his first-crop daughter Catalina Harbor put an exclamation point on the outstanding 2008 racing season registered by the up-and-coming Oregon sire Harbor the Gold.
A three-time stakes winner at Portland Meadows last year, Catalina Harbor was honored as Oregon’s 2008 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly during an awards banquet hosted by the Oregon Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders’ Association at Portland Meadows on March 7. The talented youngster, who captured the Lassie Stakes, Janet Wineberg Stakes and Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes, concluded her initial year of competition with three victories and three second-place finishes from six starts for earnings of $30,331.
During her championship campaign, Catalina Harbor was trained by Jim Fergason and regularly ridden by Mark Anderson for her owners and breeders, Bar C Racing Stables. Neal and Pam Christopherson’s successful breeding and racing operation was also recognized as the breeder of Oregon’s 2008 champion 2-year-old male, Chief Jafatica, and as the co-breeder and co-owner of the state’s 2008 champion older female, Silver Patrona, the latter of whom is a full sister to Catalina Harbor’s dam, the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold yielded three stakes winners from his first eight starters in 2008, and ended his initial season of eligibility as Oregon’s leading freshman sire. The winning son of Seeking the Gold, a half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor, stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. — March 8, 2009
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First-crop Vronsky filly makes it two in a row at Turf Paradise
The first winner by the California sire Vronsky became his first repeat winner on March 8, when front-running Shesourkindagal romped by more than a dozen lengths in a six-furlong claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at Turf Paradise.
Making her second start on Arizona soil, Shesourkindagal burst from the gate with authority and quickly erased any conjecture about the race’s ultimate outcome, leading the field through brisk fractions of :22.36, :45.46 and :57.43 before jockey Stephan Heiler put the 11-10 favorite in cruise control for her stretch run. When the duo reached the wire in 1:10.10, they were a comfortable 12 1/4 lengths ahead of their nearest rival.
The California-bred filly banked $4,020 for the victory, her second consecutive score at the $5,000 claiming level at Turf Paradise. She kicked off her career last October with a third-place effort on the Tapeta Footings racing surface at Golden Gate Fields, but she was unplaced in three subsequent starts on the all-weather track before she was shipped southeast to Turf Paradise. In total, she has earned $9,540 from six starts.
Shesourkindagal is a Blahut Stables LLC homebred, and was saddled for her most recent victory by trainer Phillip Schvaneveldt. Her dam is the unraced Clever Trick mare Clever N Cute.
Ten-year-old Vronsky, a winning son of Danzig, resides at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. He will be represented by his second crop to race this year. — March 8, 2009
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Vronsky’s first winner breaks her maiden in hand-ride
The young California stallion Vronsky was represented by his initial winner as a sire on February 20, when his first-crop daughter Shesourkindagal turned away nine rivals without feeling her jockey’s whip in a five-furlong maiden test at Turf Paradise.
Saddled by Keith Bennett and ridden by Stephan Heiler, the 3-year-old filly was pushed out five-wide early in the $5,000 claiming contest, but she quickly gained control of the race and forged ahead to a 5 1/2-length advantage in the stretch. Under hand-urging only, she reached the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of her closest competitor in a final time of :57.85 for her first victory from five career outings.
Shesourkindagal made four consecutive starts on the Tapeta Footings surface at Golden Gate Fields, before switching to the dirt in Arizona. To date, she has earned $5,520 while running for her breeder, Blahut Stables LLC.
Produced by the unraced Clever Trick mare Clever N Cute, Shesourkindagal was bred in California.
Three-time winner Vronsky stands at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. The 10-year-old son of Danzig, who sold for $1 million as a Keeneland September yearling, is out of the Grade 3-placed, multiple stakes-winning Lord At War (Arg) mare Words of War, who also produced the dual Grade 2-winning sire E Dubai and the Grade 1 winner/Group 1 producer No Matter What. — February 20, 2009
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Catalina Harbor keeps paying dividends for Harbor the Gold
Consistent Catalina Harbor scored another stakes placing for her Oregon-based sire, Harbor the Gold, when she ran third after setting the early pace in the $10,450 Invitational Handicap at Portland Meadows on February 18.
A three-time local stakes winner at six furlongs in 2008, the 3-year-old filly was asked to stretch out to a mile and 70 yards in her second start of 2009, which came three weeks after she ran second by a nose in the track's one-mile Invitational Handicap for her gender and division. As usual, the speedy Jim Fergason trainee took the lead through the first six furlongs of her mid-February race, but gave way in the stretch and ultimately finished 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner, De Cantina.
Catalina Harbor was guided by regular rider Mark Anderson, and pocketed $1,568 for her eighth career start to push her overall earnings to $33,989.
Bred and owned by Oregon's Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor has won three races, all in stakes company, and has placed in all five of her other starts. She was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold ascended to the top of Oregon's freshman sire list last year, with three stakes winners and progeny earnings of $110,181 to his credit. The winning son of Seeking the Gold, a half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor, holds court at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. — February 18, 2009
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Catalina Harbor earns stakes placing for Harbor the Gold
Three-year-old Catalina Harbor, a triple stakes winner by Oregon’s leading freshman sire of 2008, Harbor the Gold, barely missed adding a fourth stakes title to her credentials when she ran second by a nose in Portland Meadows’ $10,450 Invitational Handicap on January 28.
In her 2009 debut, the precocious filly grabbed an early lead in the one-mile race, which was contested on wet-fast going and marked her first attempt at tackling two turns. Under regular rider Mark Anderson, the 123-pound highweight increased her advantage to three lengths with only a quarter-mile left to run, but she was suddenly confronted by the fast-closing Nikki S. in the stretch. Catalina Harbor responded heartily with a protracted duel to the wire, and lost by the smallest of margins in a final time of 1:42.87. The front pair finished more than nine lengths ahead of the remaining six contenders.
Trained by Jim Fergason for owner/breeder Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor has won three of her seven career starts, and finished second four times by a combined total of just three lengths. She has earned $32,421, largely on the strength of her victories in Portland Meadows’ Lassie, Janet Wineberg and Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes during 2008.
She was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly, a full sister to Oregon champions Corona Del Hielo and Silver Patrona.
A two-time winner by Seeking the Gold, Harbor the Gold led all Oregon first-crop sires by progeny earnings last year, with $110,181. The 8-year-old stallion stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. — January 28, 2009
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It’s three stakes victories in a row for Harbor the Gold filly
Catalina Harbor, a first-crop filly by the promising Oregon stallion Harbor the Gold, snatched her third consecutive stakes trophy on December 7, when she outclassed four contenders in Portland Meadows’ $11,250 Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes for state-bred juvenile fillies.
Paired with regular rider Mark Anderson, the 2-year-old talent broke on top, was pressed for the lead early, then kept a steady, 1 1/2-length advantage throughout the remainder of the six-furlong race. She successfully spurned her closest competitor in the stretch for a half-length victory in 1:13.92, accomplished on a sloppy surface as the 1-2 wagering favorite for trainer Jim Fergason.
Bred and campaigned by Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly. She has won three of her six starts, with three second-place efforts, for first-year earnings of $30,331. Her earlier stakes victories were the Portland track’s $19,550 Lassie Stakes and the $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes, both contested at six furlongs in November.
Harbor the Gold, a winning, Seeking the Gold half-brother to 1996 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor, is poised to assume the throne as Oregon’s leading freshman sire of 2008. The 7-year-old stallion, who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, boasts three stakes winners from eight starters, and total progeny earnings of $110,181.
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Colt selected by Suzanne Cardiff sets Hollywood Park record
Grade 2 winner Gayego, a 3-year-old colt who was recommended for purchase at auction by California bloodstock consultant Suzanne Cardiff, set a track record at Hollywood Park on November 30, when he captured a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming event contested on the Cushion Track all-weather racing surface.
The Gilded Time colt, who won the 2008 Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park and went on to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), relished the removal of blinkers and led at every call of the $66,396 race. Saddled by Paulo Lobo and ridden by Mike Smith, Gayego defeated four rivals, including dual graded stakes winner El Gato Malo, with a two-length margin of victory in 1:13.37, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. The previous track record for the distance was 1:13.79, set in December 2007.
Earlier this year, Gayego set a track record for 6 1/2 furlongs on the Cushion Track at Santa Anita Park, going the distance in 1:13.07 when he won the $79,700 San Pedro Stakes. To date, the Kentucky-bred has won four of nine starts for a $763,020 bankroll. He was selected for purchase by Cardiff for $32,000 during the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale on behalf of owner Cubanacan Stables.
Lobo said Gayego’s next start will be Santa Anita’s seven-furlong, $250,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) on December 26.
Suzanne Cardiff maintains an office in Arcadia, California, where she offers pedigree research consultation and other Thoroughbred-related services.
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First-crop Suances colt remains unbeaten and untested
California-bred Feisty Suances kept his three-race record pristine on November 23, when he dominated a 7 1/2-furlong allowance race at Hollywood Park from flag fall to finish.
The official race comments for the front-running, 2-year-old son of Suances (GB) all read the same: "ridden out". A two-time winner during the 2008 Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park — first at 6 1/2 furlongs in September, then at one mile in October - Feisty Suances took his A-game with him across town to Inglewood for his third consecutive victory under partner David Flores.
The Red Baron’s Barn homebred broke first from the gate, shot to an early lead and proved much the best under a steady hand ride, spurning his four rivals with a 1 1/4-length triumph in 1:28.61 over CushionTrack. As the first foal out of the winning Good and Tough mare Good and Hot, he has earned $53,820 under the tutelage of trainer Darrell Vienna.
Suances, an 11-year-old son of Most Welcome (GB) who captured a Group 1 race in France and a Grade 2 race in the United States, resides at Rancho Temescal in Piru, California. His first-crop progeny earnings currently stand at $58,980, with the lion’s share attributed to his undefeated colt.
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Harbor the Gold runners sweep Portland Meadows juvenile stakes
On November 16, a pair of runners from the first crop of Oregon stallion Harbor the Gold captured the feature races at Portland Meadows: the $19,700 Dennis Dodge Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old colts and the $19,550 Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
In the Dodge, the Ann Peery-trained gelding Who's Your Next Ex sat patiently in fifth under jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo through the early stages, switched to an outside path for his stretch drive and drew off to a three-length victory over seven rivals in the six-furlong contest, which marked his first outing at the Oregon oval. Bred in Washington by Kim Smith and produced by the winning Synastry mare Synanita, the gelding has now won two of four starts, with two thirds, for $18,405 in earnings. He is owned by Kimberly Nobles.
In the six-furlong Lassie, the standout filly Catalina Harbor collected her second consecutive stakes title within a two-week period. Winner of Portland Meadows' $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes against her fellow Oregon-bred juvenile fillies on November 2, the Jim Fergason trainee successfully moved up to defeat open company in the Lassie with the services of returning jockey Mark Anderson.
Catalina Harbor exhibited her grit with a front-running victory, turning back multiple bids from her challengers in the final quarter-mile before reaching the wire three-quarters of a length in front. The Bar C Racing Stables homebred, who was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly, has now won two of five starts, with three seconds, and compiled a $24,143 bankroll.
Seven-year-old Harbor the Gold, by Seeking the Gold, is the leading freshman sire in Oregon for 2008, with cumulative progeny earnings of $102,933 to date. A resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, he boasts three stakes winners from his initial crop of 12 foals.
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Private Gold fillies earn stakes placings at Portland Meadows
A pair of Washington-bred fillies from the debut crop of Private Gold picked up placings in the $19,550 Lassie Stakes at Portland Meadows on November 16, enhancing their sire's status as the Evergreen State's leading freshman sire of 2008.
Two-time winner Italian Gold and maiden winner Primadonna Pearl got up for second and third, respectively, in the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, which attracted seven entrants.
Italian Gold, trained by Delmer Webb for Nordic Stable and ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, finished three-quarters of a length behind the front-running winner, Catalina Harbor, as the 7-10 wagering favorite. Produced by the winning Staff Riot mare Special Spirit and bred by Nina Hagen and Holly Sturgeon, she has won or placed in six of seven lifetime starts, and earned $21,020.
The John Maloney-trained Primadonna Pearl ended the race just a nose behind Italian Gold, earning $2,933 for the show to bring her eight-race bankroll to $15,031. She was ridden by David Lopez for owner Steven Many. Primadonna Pearl is out of the winning Slewdledo mare Primadonna Poppy, and was bred by Carleen Phyllis Belton and Dan Belton.
Private Gold, a Grade 3-placed, dual stakes-winning son of Seeking the Gold, has sired six winners from his initial 14 starters and has cumulative progeny earnings of $71,688 to date. The eight-year-old stallion stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington.
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Private Gold secures top spot among Washington freshman sires
Italian Gold became the first repeat winner for Washington-based freshman sire Private Gold when she captured a 5 1/2-furlong race for juvenile fillies at Portland Meadows on November 4.
Skipping over the wet-fast track with aplomb, the 4-5 wagering favorite rewarded her backers with a come-from-behind, one-length score over six rivals. The youngster, whose five previous starts had all been made at Emerald Downs in her home state, boosted her career bankroll to $17,110 for owner Nordic Stable. She is trained by Delmer Webb, and was ridden to victory in the $12,500 claiming event by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo.
Italian Gold was bred by Nina Hagen and Holly Sturgeon, and was produced by the winning Staff Riot mare Special Spirit. She has been off the board only once, finishing fourth in Emerald Downs' restricted, $45,000 Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes last August in her second start.
Private Gold, a Grade 3-placed, dual stakes-winning son of Seeking the Gold who stood his first season in 2005, has achieved six winners from his first 14 starters this year. His current progeny earnings of $63,435 rank him first among all Washington freshman sires.
Eight-year-old Private Gold stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington. He has 25 two-year-olds in his initial crop.
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Harbor the Gold harvests another stakes winner in initial crop
Seven-year-old Harbor the Gold tightened his grip on the pending 2008 title of Oregon's leading freshman sire on November 2, when his juvenile daughter Catalina Harbor broke her maiden in Portland Meadows' $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes, becoming her sire's second stakes winner from his initial crop of 12 foals.
The six-furlong race for 2-year-old state-bred fillies attracted only four starters, but Catalina Harbor and jockey Mark Anderson dominated the competition by drawing away in the stretch for a 4 3/4-length victory. Saddled by trainer Jim Fergason, the Bar C Racing Stables homebred covered the distance in 1:14.24 over a sloppy surface.
Catalina Harbor is the first foal out of the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly. She entered the Wineberg off three consecutive runner-up efforts at Portland Meadows and at Les Bois Park in Idaho. From four starts to date, the dark bay filly has earned $13,390.
A winning son of Seeking the Gold, Harbor the Gold is a half-brother to 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor. He has sired an impressive four winners from six first-crop starters, for a 66.67% success rate. His chief earner is Emerald Downs' 2008 Captain Condo Stakes winner, Noosa Beach.
Harbor the Gold stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, and is represented by cumulative progeny earnings of $81,345.
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Entries between July - November 2008.
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