Aroseformadeline is fourth stakes horse for Harbor the Gold

On June 27, Leonard Hammrich’s homebred filly Aroseformadeline became the fourth member of the initial crop of runners by Oregon sire Harbor the Gold to compete with distinction at the stakes level when she ran a game second in the 3 Yr Old Fillies Stakes at Lethbridge.

Conducted at about six furlongs over the Alberta, Canada racetrack’s dirt strip, the race offered a purse of US$11,438 and attracted eight starters. Fresh off a May 16 victory and May 30 runner-up effort in her prior two allowance starts at Lethbridge, both contested against her elders, Aroseformadeline was installed as the 2-1 betting favorite under jockey Scott Sterr.

The Oregon-bred filly jumped into contention early, then pushed the pacesetter Fun Runner for most of the race from a close-up running position of less than a length behind her. Although her speedy rival was able to pull away in the stretch and ultimately posted a 4 3/4-length win, Aroseformadeline successfully held the remaining contenders at bay. She finished a clear 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place runner, earning $2,974 to push her career bankroll to $12,010.

Trained by John Harris, Aroseformadeline has won three races and placed in four others from 11 starts to date. She is the second foal out of Cheyenne Rose, a winning daughter of Katahaula County.

Harbor the Gold is a dual winner by Seeking the Gold who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. The 8-year-old stallion yielded three stakes winners from his first eight starters in 2008, and concluded the year as Oregon’s leading first-crop sire. — June 27, 2009

It’s back-to-back winners at Hollywood Park for Suances

Just one day after Adam Suances became the second winner for Suances (GB), the California-based stallion was represented by another successful runner from his initial crop when Suances de Espana also broke her maiden at Hollywood Park for the same connections.

The 3-year-old filly, a homebred runner for Jed Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn, was making her career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong test on the Inglewood oval’s all-weather Cushion Track surface on June 19. Like her cropmate, Adam Suances, she entered the race off a series of works over Santa Anita Park’s dirt training track for conditioner Darrell Vienna, and was partnered with veteran rider Martin Pedroza.

Facing eight other starters, including two of her elders, Suances de Espana stalked the pace from the outside, made her bid between horses on the turn and outlasted the eventual runner-up in a determined stretch battle that resulted in her one-length victory. She was clocked in 1:04.58 for the distance, and returned a $9 win ticket as the 7-2 second wagering choice. Although she was eligible to be claimed for $25,000, she returned to her own stall after having her photo taken in the winner’s circle.

The California-bred filly is the first foal out of the stakes-placed winner Estrada, by Mutakddim. She earned $9,000 for her first foray as a racehorse.

Suances, a Group 1 winner in France and Grade 2 winner in Northern California, holds court at Rancho Temescal in Piru. The 12-year-old Most Welcome (GB) stallion is represented by progeny earnings of $222,180 from two crops to race. — June 19, 2009

Suances gelding provides comeback for injured jockey

When Adam Suances outran 10 contenders in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden claiming test at Hollywood Park on June 18, it marked a successful return to the races for both the gelding and his jockey. Unraced in nearly 13 months, the Suances (GB) sophomore carried journeyman Martin Pedroza to the winner’s circle for the first time since the rider was hospitalized with a broken pelvis five months earlier.

A California-bred runner from his sire’s initial crop, Adam Suances had been sidelined since he ran seventh in his debut at Golden Gate Fields in May 2008. Although he had turned in a series of comeback works over the dirt training track at Santa Anita Park since April, he was ignored by most handicappers when he went to post for his second career start, and offered steep odds of 17-1 while running for a $35,000 claiming price.

Pedroza put his mount into contention early, pushing the pacesetter from second through the first half-mile before assuming the lead in the stretch. Once clear, the duo rallied to a three-length victory in 1:16.62, giving the 43-year-old jockey his first win back just one week after he returned to the irons following a post parade incident last January.

Adam Suances is campaigned by his breeder, Red Baron’s Barn, and conditioned by Darrell Vienna. He is the first foal out of the winning Pivotal (GB) mare Carbon Copy (GB), and has banked $12,300 to date.

Twelve-year-old Suances, a European champion and second-crop sire by Most Welcome (GB), stands at Rancho Temescal in Piru, California. — June 18, 2009

Private Gold scores two more winners at Emerald Downs

The return of racing at Emerald Downs nearly two months ago has provided a boon to the young Washington stallion Private Gold, who added to his local 2009 tally when he scored winners on back-to-back programs on June 5 and June 6.

On the track’s Friday evening card, his 3-year-old son He’s All Heart captured his second consecutive start at the $7,500 claiming level, scoring a two-length victory at six furlongs in a final time of 1:10.20. The Washington-bred gelding, whose 11-1 odds proved to be a gift to astute handicappers, has been ridden by Robert Burney in four of his six lifetime starts, which have all been made at Emerald Downs for trainer Larry Wolf and owner Vic-Tory Stables IV.

Bred by Washington Thoroughbred Foundation, He’s All Heart was produced by the Chequer mare Big Headache. The two-time winner, a member of his sire’s initial crop of runners, has banked $9,922 overall.

The following day, Washington’s leading freshman sire of 2008 achieved another landmark when his state-bred son Private Jettz, the debut runner from his second crop, won at first asking at the Auburn oval.

Facing a field of five rival 2-year-olds, the John and Janene Maryanski homebred led at every call of the 4 1/2-furlong test, which was carded as a $12,500 claiming race for non-winners. Under jockey Juan Gutierrez, he hit the wire in :52.60 with a clear 3 3/4-length advantage, returning $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the 7-10 favorite.

Private Jettz is out of the winning Free At Last mare Freedom in Flight, and is a full brother to the 2008 juvenile winner Isabellas Premiere. Conditioned by trainer Blaine Wright, he earned $4,675 for his successful introductory race.

Nine-year-old Private Gold is on the stallion roster at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw. A Grade 3-placed dual stakes winner by Seeking the Gold, he is currently Washington’s leading second-crop sire by winners and progeny earnings. — June 6, 2009

Strawberry Tart, by Atticus, takes Manhattan Beach by storm

Making her turf debut at odds of 13-1 and straying from her usual front-running tactics, the Atticus filly Strawberry Tart overcame all challenges to post a clear victory in the $87,335 Manhattan Beach Stakes during a Friday night program at Hollywood Park on June 5.

The California-bred runner also responded to cues from jockey Martin Garcia, who was partnered with her for the first time in her five-start career. Although the Jeff Bonde trainee had won two of her earlier races on the front end, she was kept in reserve near back of the eight-horse field after she broke seventh from the gate in the six-furlong Manhattan Beach, a grass event which was restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

Sixth after a half-mile run in :45.06 by the leader, Strawberry Tart was finally asked to move into contention as she entered the stretch. Taking a four-wide path, she powered forward and seized control in the final sixteenth, ultimately reaching the wire in a brisk 1:08.70 and earning her first stakes title by a commanding 2 1/2 lengths.

A two-time winner on the dirt at Oaklawn Park by a combined total of nearly 20 lengths earlier this year, Strawberry Tart has now won three races — each at the six-furlong distance — and banked $92,625 for owners George and Mary Clare Schmitt. She was bred by Valentine Farm LLC and produced by the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Mylittletart.

Strawberry Tart is the 11th lifetime stakes winner for the Grade 1-winning Magali Farms stallion Atticus. The 17-year-old Nureyev sire is represented by total progeny earnings of more than $9.6 million to date. — June 5, 2009

Coco’sprivatelabel, by Private Gold, makes it two in a row

Less than three weeks after he captured a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race at Emerald Downs, the first-crop Private Gold gelding Coco’sprivatelabel got his picture taken again at the Auburn, Washington track when he romped home in his six-furlong follow-up test on June 4.

The 3-year-old gelding repeated the front-running tactics that served him well in his previous start on May 17. Sent postward as the odd-on favorite in his second consecutive attempt at the $15,000 claiming level, Coco’sprivatelabel broke on top and immediately opened up a clear lead against his six overmatched rivals. After setting fractions of :22.60, :45.20 and :57.20 — times which were nearly identical to those of his previous outing, he galloped to the wire under a hand ride by jockey Juan Gutierrez for an easy, three-length win margin.

Coco’sprivatelabel stopped the clock in 1:10 and collected a $5,775 check to push his overall earnings to $19,740. The Doris Harwood pupil has now won three of five starts, with two seconds, for owners Just A Dream Stable and Ron and Nina Hagen.

Bred in Washington by Julie Ann Scofield and Just A Dream Stable, he is out of the winning mare Tea With Coco, by Free At Last.

Private Gold resides at the Hagens’ El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington. A Grade 3-placed, dual stakes winner by Seeking the Gold, the 9-year-old stallion reigned as the state’s leading freshman sire last year. — June 4, 2009

Vronsky runner leads from gate to wire in his career debut

First-time starter Tri Something New lived up to his name on May 31, when he became the fourth winner from the initial crop sired by the California stallion Vronsky.

The 3-year-old gelding captured a six-furlong maiden claiming test at Emerald Downs, the Washington racetrack where he posted three five-furlong works during May in preparation for his career debut. The foundation instilled by trainer Mike Chambers proved instrumental.

Eager to run as soon as the starting stalls opened, Tri Something New set a pressured pace from the inside, opened a clear lead in midstretch and ultimately finished the seven-horse dash without feeling the whip of jockey Seth Martinez, who coasted his mount to the wire in 1:11.20 as a three-length winner. The fractions the duo set along their journey in the $7,500 claiming race were :22.40, :45.80 and :58, and they returned a $6.40 win voucher as the 2-1 second wagering choice.

Tri Something New was bred in California by his owner, Dr. Melinda Blue. He is the third foal out of the winning broodmare St Antim (Ire), by Petardia (GB), and he has now earned $3,520.

A three-time winner by Danzig, Vronsky stands at Old English Rancho in Sanger. The 10-year-old stallion represents the productive family of 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Raven’s Pass, as well as reigning European champion Rainbow View and 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Advice. — May 31, 2009

Harbor the Gold’s Washington champion nets third stakes

Noosa Beach, a 3-year-old gelding who emerged from the first crop of runners by Harbor the Gold as a state champion last year, collected his second consecutive stakes title — and third overall — at Emerald Downs on May 31.

A Doris Harwood trainee who has never finished off the board, Noosa Beach employed both his speed and his tenacity in capturing the $50,000 Pepsi Cola Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong test for sophomore males. Breaking first of seven from the gate under jockey Juan Gutierrez, he immediately took command of the race, withstanding pressure from an outside rival as he set fractions of :22.40 and :45.00 through the first half-mile. As soon as that foe capitulated, Noosa Beach suddenly encountered another roadblock: his surging stablemate, Winning Machine.

The two horses engaged in a head-to-head battle to the wire, with Noosa Beach stubbornly holding on for a head victory in 1:15.00. The 3-2 wagering favorite earned $27,500 for his winning effort, bringing his lifetime bankroll to $99,375.

“He’s a great horse who loves competition and never quits,” said Gutierrez, who has been aboard the Washington-bred in all six of the gelding’s career starts to date, each one at Emerald Downs. “I’m always very comfortable when I ride him.”

Produced by the Basket Weave mare Julia Rose, Noosa Beach has won four races, including the 2008 Captain Condo Stakes and 2009 Auburn Stakes. He was bred by owner Jeff Harwood in partnership with his wife, Doris, and received accolades as the 2008 Washington Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding.

Noosa Beach is the chief earner for the winning Seeking the Gold stallion Harbor the Gold, an 8-year-old member of the Bar C Racing Stables roster who ranked as Oregon’s leading freshman sire last year. — May 31, 2009

Atticus gelding nabs Monmouth stakes placing in 60th start

With plenty of experience on his side, the veteran turf specialist Atticus Kristy finished a strong second in the $60,000 Wolf Hill Stakes on May 30. The Monmouth Park grass event marked the 60th career start for the Atticus gelding, a Grade 3 winner in 2006 who is still running strong at the age of 8.

Claimed for $50,000 from breeder Centaur Farms Inc. and Dan Lynch on April 10, Atticus Kristy has already earned $22,000 from two consecutive stakes placings for his new owner, David Ross. Overall, the Kentucky-bred has won 13 races, placed in 24 others and banked $717,850 to rank as his sire’s second-highest lifetime earner.

In the 5 1/2-furlong Wolf Hill, Atticus Kristy saved ground early, then finished well on the outside under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, reaching the wire 1 3/4 lengths behind the 4-5 front-running winner, Smart Enough. He was saddled by conditioner Michael Pino.

Atticus Kristy, a three-time stakes winner, is the first foal out of Christy Love, an Unbridled mare who has also produced the multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner Distorted Reality, by Distorted Humor, and the stakes winner Fiery Dancer, by Atticus.

Grade 1 winner Atticus resides at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The 17-year-old Nureyev sire has lifetime progeny earnings of more than $9.4 million from nine crops of racing age. — May 30, 2009

Tannersmyman colt turns in another Grade 3 shocker

Nearly 15 months after he pulled off a 62-1 shocker in the $150,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) and briefly flirted with the 2008 Triple Crown trail, the Tannersmyman colt Autism Awareness rewarded his backers with another huge payout when he captured Golden Gate Fields’ $150,000 Berkeley Stakes (G3) at odds of 30-1 on May 25.

The 4-year-old colt was sidelined by a knee injury that was detected just three days after his breakout race in the El Camino Real in March 2008. He returned to competition last November, but only managed a single allowance optional claiming victory in seven subsequent starts.

Following a failed turf experiment in the $300,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes (G2) on April 25, Autism Awareness was ignored by most handicappers in his 1 1/16-mile Berkeley attempt. Partnered with jockey David Lopez, the California-bred colt broke from the outside post in the nine-horse race, stayed within reach of the early leaders, rallied four-wide on the second turn and surged forward as part of a four-horse blanket finish. His late push was enough to give him a head advantage at the wire, which he reached in 1:43.12 on the all-weather Tapeta surface.

Produced by the winning Sharp Victor mare Lady Essex and bred by Jim Eaton, Paul Arndt, Dave Marabela and Mr. and Mrs. Terry Smith, Autism Awareness was purchased for a mere $1,000 by owner Johnny Taboada at the 2006 CTBA Sales’ Northern California Yearling Sale. To date, he has earned $281,745, with four wins and five placings from 22 starts for trainer Genaro Vallejo.

Stakes winner Tannersmyman stands at Woodbridge Farm in Oakdale, California. From four crops of racing age, the 11-year-old son of Lord Carson has compiled progeny earnings of more than $560,000. — May 25, 2009

Washington’s Private Gold notches another first-crop winner

On May 22, 3-year-old He’s All Heart became the seventh winner from the initial crop of runners sired by the young Washington stallion Private Gold when he captured a six-furlong maiden claiming test over 10 rivals at Emerald Downs.

Making only his fifth career start, the Larry Wolf-trained gelding quickly engaged in the competition by breaking alertly from the gate and pressing the early pace along the rail. Asked to move up by jockey Robert Burney with three-sixteenths of a mile remaining in the race, He’s All Heart responded with fervor and willingly took over the lead. Although his inexperience showed when he drifted out in the stretch, he kept increasing his advantage until he reached the wire 4 1/4 lengths clear of his nearest threat.

The final time for the $7,500 claiming contest for sophomore Washington-breds was 1:11.20. He’s All Heart improved his overall bankroll to $6,017 with his first winner’s check.

Bred by Washington Thoroughbred Foundation and campaigned by Vic-Tory Stables IV, he is the second winner out of the stakes-producing Chequer mare Big Headache.

Private Gold, a two-time stakes winner, holds court at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington. The nine-year-old Seeking the Gold stallion was the state’s leading first-crop sire of 2008. — May 22, 2009

First-crop Private Gold gelding dominates Emerald Downs sprint

Coco’sprivatelabel, a 3-year-old gelding from the first crop of last year’s leading freshman sire in Washington, Private Gold, scored a 1 3/4-length, gate-to-wire victory in a $15,000 claiming race at Emerald Downs on May 17.

Despite being bumped at the start, the Doris Harwood trainee shook off the setback and went to the lead of the seven-horse race, carving out fractions of :22, :45.20 and :57.20 and ultimately posting a final time of 1:03.40 for his 5 1/2-furlong trip under Juan Gutierrez. In his 2009 debut on April 24, Coco’sprivatelabel had finished second in a $12,500 claiming race at the same racetrack and distance, marking his first on-track effort since his local maiden victory last August.

Bred in Washington by Julie Ann Scofield and Just A Dream Stable and owned by the latter in partnership with Ron and Nina Hagen, Coco’sprivatelabel has earned $13,965 from two wins and two seconds in four career starts.

He is the second foal out of the winning Free At Last mare Tea With Coco, a half-sister to the stakes winner Secret Assembly and the stakes-placed winner General Concorde.

Nine-year-old Private Gold, a graded stakes-placed dual stakes winner of $208,047, stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington. He is now the sire of four repeat winners among a total of six winners from 14 starters in his initial crop. — May 17, 2009

Harbor the Gold filly ships north to Canada, wins third race

Oregon-bred Aroseformadeline, a first-crop daughter of Harbor the Gold who was winless in her five starts of 2009 at Portland Meadows, shipped north to the Lethbridge racetrack in Alberta, Canada and came away with a two-length victory on May 16.

Facing five rivals — all her elders — in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance test, Aroseformadeline took immediate control out of the gate under rider Scott Sterr and increased her advantage with every stride, reaching the wire two lengths ahead of her closest competitor in 1:09.80. The 3-year-old filly earned US$3,604 for her wire-to-wire effort, bringing her career bankroll to $7,821.

Aroseformadeline is trained by John Harris on behalf of her owner and breeder, Leonard Hammrich. She entered the Canadian race on the heels of two consecutive second-place finishes in a pair of six-furlong claiming races at Portland Meadows in March.

Produced by the winning Katahaula County mare Cheyenne Rose, Aroseformadeline totes a record of three wins and two seconds from nine starts.

Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold ranked as Oregon’s leading freshman sire of 2008, with three stakes winners and year-end progeny earnings of $110,181 yielded from his first eight starters. The winning, Seeking the Gold half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. — May 16, 2009

Suances colt emerges at Golden Gate with first stakes victory

After running within mere lengths of 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Pioneerof the Nile in his previous two starts, California-bred Feisty Suances finally escaped the multiple Grade 1 winner’s daunting shadow and snagged an elusive stakes trophy of his own on May 2. The classy colt, from the first crop of Suances (GB), ran away with Golden Gate Fields’ $75,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes by four widening lengths.

Installed as the 2-5 favorite for his fifth consecutive stakes outing, Feisty Suances broke on top and led at every call of the 1 1/16-mile race, which was moved from the turf course to the track’s main Tapeta surface due to rain. He carried jockey Kyle Kaenel to the wire in 1:45.39, leaving four outmatched foes in his wake.

The 3-year-old colt, who was undefeated in his first three career starts in Southern California last fall, entered the Silky Sullivan off a fifth-place finish behind Pioneerof the Nile in Santa Anita Park’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4. Prior to that race, he had run a close second to the same rival in the track’s $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2).

The second-place finisher from the Santa Anita Derby, Grade 3 winner Chocolate Candy, went on to run fifth of 19 in the Kentucky Derby.

Feisty Suances is trained by Darrell Vienna for his owner and breeder, Red Baron’s Barn. He is the first foal out of the winning Good and Tough mare Good and Hot, and has earned $184,820 to date, with four victories and two placings from eight starts.

Suances, a Group 1 winner in France and Grade 2 winner in the United States, resides at Rancho Temescal in Piru, California. The 12-year-old son of Most Welcome (GB) has sired two crops of racing age. — May 2, 2009

First-crop Private Gold fillies find Emerald Downs winner’s circle

A pair of state-bred fillies from the inaugural crop of the Washington stallion Private Gold made their way to the Emerald Downs winner’s circle on back-to-back days in early May. The 3-year-old runners — stakes-placed Primadonna Pearl and repeat winner Private Lesson — each captured a 5 1/2-furlong claiming event at the Auburn oval.

On May 1, the Len Kasmerski-trained Primadonna Pearl, a 10-time starter who ran third in Portland Meadows’ $19,550 Lassie Stakes last November, made the second race of her sophomore campaign a winning one when she moved from last to first in a $7,500 claiming contest. Carrying low weight of 115 pounds with apprentice jockey Cassie Papineau aboard, she won by a head in 1:04.40 and brought her overall earnings to $19,173 for owner Steven Many.

Primadonna Pearl was bred in Washington by Carleen Phyllis Belton and Dan Belton, and produced by the winning Slewdledo mare Primadonna Poppy. The two-time winner was claimed out of the race by trainer Vann Belvoir on behalf of new owner Howard Maggard.

The following afternoon, Private Lesson became the first repeat winner of Emerald Downs’ 2009 meet when she outkicked seven foes, including six of her elders, in a $25,000 claiming race. Making her first start on a wet-fast track, the Doris Harwood trainee moved steadily from fifth to first under jockey Saul Arias for a half-length advantage in 1:03.80.

She collected $8,305 for her third lifetime win and pushed her seven-race bankroll to $18,843. Private Lesson was bred by her owner, Jeff Harwood, and produced by the winning Basket Weave mare Faithfully.

Both fillies were sired by the El Dorado Farms resident Private Gold, a nine-year-old dual stakes winner by Seeking the Gold who topped all Washington freshman sires by progeny earnings last year. — May 2, 2009

Atticus old-timer tops $700,000 in earnings with stakes placing

Atticus Kristy, a veteran campaigner by the California-based sire Atticus, added more black type to his storied career on May 1, when he ran second in a five-furlong turf stakes at Atlantic City Race Course and pushed his overall earnings past the $700,000 mark.

The 8-year-old gelding, a Grade 3 winner in 2006 who currently divides his time between stakes company and high-dollar claiming company, collected a $10,000 check for his runner-up finish in the New Jersey track’s $50,000 Tony Gatto Dream Big Stakes, which attracted eight runners. Sent off as the 7-2 wagering favorite under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Atticus Kristy raced off the pace from the inside, angled out at the top of the lane and rallied between rivals late to secure the place, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Hesa Big Star.

Bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms Inc., Atticus Kristy has crafted a career of distinction. A late bloomer, he won his first stakes event at 4, captured Keeneland Race Course’s Shakertown Stakes (G3) at 5 and placed in Churchill Downs’ Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes for the second time last year at 7. From 59 starts, he totes 13 wins, 12 seconds and 11 thirds and earnings of $705,850. He is trained by Michael Pino for owner David Ross.

Produced by the Unbridled mare Christy Love, Atticus Kristy is a full brother to the stakes winner Fiery Dancer and a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner Distorted Reality.

Atticus Kristy is the second-highest earner for the Grade 1-winning Magali Farms stallion Atticus. The 17-year-old son of Nureyev is represented by total progeny earnings of more than $9.4 million. — May 1, 2009

Vronsky attains Hollywood Park second-out maiden winner

Norvsky, a second-time starter by the California stallion Vronsky, proved his gallant first race was not a fluke when he broke his maiden by two lengths in his next outing, which came on April 24 at Hollywood Park.

The 3-year-old gelding made his promising career debut at Santa Anita Park on March 29, defeating all but one of his 10 rivals when he moved six-wide and rallied from last to second in a one-mile turf race. The winner of that maiden special weight event, Compari, returned on April 25 to capture Hollywood’s $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes in only his third lifetime start.

A stakes race might be in Norvsky’s immediate future as well, based on his winning performance in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on the Hollywood grass course, which was contested by California-bred non-winners aged 3 and up and run under lights on a Friday night card. Saddled by Donald Warren and ridden by Joel Rosario, he was last of seven out of the gate, but first at the finish in a final clocking of 1:41.64.

The even-money favorite collected $28,800 to push his earnings to $38,000. He is the second winner out of the mare Fimbrelith, a winning daughter of Flying Paster. Norvsky was bred by Old English Rancho, and is campaigned by E.W. and Judy Johnston in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Bob Riggio.

Ten-year-old Vronsky resides at the Johnston family's Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. A $1 million Keeneland September yearling and multiple winner by Danzig, he is represented by his second crop of runners this year. — April 24, 2009

Washington leader Private Gold achieves another repeat winner

Private Lesson, a daughter of Washington’s 2008 leading freshman sire, Private Gold, distinguished herself as the second repeat winner from her sire’s debut crop when she returned from an eight-month break to upset a 5 1/2-furlong sprint race on the second day of Emerald Downs’ 2009 meet.

The 3-year-old filly, who races as a homebred for Jeff Harwood, outfinished six rivals in the April 18 dash, which was conducted as a $12,500 claiming event. Sent postward as a 12-1 longshot, Private Lesson belied those odds when she stalked the early pacesetter, engaged that favored 2-1 leader a furlong from the wire and ultimately drew clear for a 1 3/4-length victory in 1:03.60.

She was ridden by regular companion Juan Gutierrez, who has guided her in five of her six lifetime starts. Private Lesson has raced exclusively at the Auburn, Washington oval, but had not seen competition since her dull, sixth-place finish in the track’s 6 1/2-furlong Knights Choice Stakes for juvenile fillies last August.

Trained by Doris Harwood, Private Lesson has now won two races and earned $10,538. A Washington-bred, she was produced by the winning Basket Weave mare Faithfully.

Nine-year-old Private Gold resides at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington. With six winners from his first 14 starters, the stakes-winning son of Seeking the Gold led all freshman sires in the state by total progeny earnings in 2008. — April 18, 2009

Vronsky colt wins Northern California’s first 2YO race of 2009

The young California sire Vronsky attained immediate dividends on March 28, when the initial runner from his second foal crop won the first 2-year-old race of 2009 at Golden Gate Fields.

Excessive Passion, a colt out of the winning In Excess (Ire) mare Ms Hearts N Arrows, broke professionally from the gate and ran a close second for most of the two-furlong dash, then overtook the early leader near the finish for a 1 1/2-length advantage at the wire. His final time on the Tapeta Footings surface was :21.59, which he achieved as the 5-2 wagering favorite under jockey Omar Figueroa, and which now stands as a track record for the distance.

The California-bred colt received a winner’s purse of $18,720 for his successful career debut in the $32,400 maiden special weight test, which attracted nine contenders. He was saddled by Jeff Bonde for the ownership group of Rusty Brown, Philip Lebherz and Alan Klein.

Bred by Old English Rancho and Berumen, Excessive Passion was the $25,000 top-selling colt at the 2008 Northern California Yearling Sale, which was conducted by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa last August.

Vronsky, a winning son of Danzig, stands at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. The 10-year-old stallion, whose Grade 2-winning half-brother E Dubai is a notable sire in Kentucky, is currently represented by his second crop to reach racing age. — March 28, 2009

Cal-bred Suances colt runs game second in G2 San Felipe

California-bred Feisty Suances, a colt from the first crop of European champion Suances (GB), gave the decorated Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Pioneerof the Nile a run for his money on March 14, when he came within 1 1/4 lengths of the Grade 1 winner in Santa Anita Park’s $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2).

A stakes-placed colt who won three of four starts during his 2008 juvenile campaign, Feisty Suances entered the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe off a fourth-place effort in Golden Gate Fields’ $100,000 California Derby, which was contested at the same distance on January 17 and marked his 2009 debut.

Reunited with regular rider David Flores at Santa Anita and sent postward at odds of 11-1 for his second start as a 3-year-old, the colt maintained an early running position along the rail behind pacesetter New Bay, shifted outside the tiring front-runner in the second turn and ran on willingly to the wire, which he ultimately reached a length in front of third-place finisher Jeranimo.

Feisty Suances’ runner-up finish in the 72nd edition of the San Felipe places him along elite company; among the other notable runners to finish second in this race over the past 30 years were subsequent Kentucky Derby winners Giacomo (2005), Real Quiet (1998), Silver Charm (1997), Alysheba (1987) and Gato Del Sol (1982).

The Darrell Vienna trainee, who also ran second in Santa Anita’s $125,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes last December, has compiled a six-race record of three wins and two placings, and earnings of $124,820. Produced by the winning Good and Tough mare Good and Hot, he is campaigned by his breeder, Red Baron’s Barn.

Twelve-year-old Suances, a Group 1 winner and French highweight at 3, currently stands at Rancho Temescal in Piru, California. The Most Welcome (GB) stallion was represented by his first crop of runners in 2008. — March 14, 2009