Three-year-old Castinette Dancer, a 2009 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale $5,200 RNA, took a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Hastings Racecourse by 3 1/4 lengths for owners Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella on April 16. The Washington-bred daughter of Ministers Wild Cat-Premo Copy, by Supremo, was claimed by her current owners from her breeder John Roche for $20,000 after a second place effort at Golden Gate Fields last November and next finished second to now stakes-placed Washington-bred Windy Sails in a $32,000 maiden claimer in December.

  Elttaes Stable's homebred Aaron the Baron made a winning debut when the four-year-old Washington-bred gelding took a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race at Emerald Downs on April 24. The new winner is a son of Tribunal out of 1999 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale graduate Silver Screen Girl, a $127,121 stakes-winning daughter of Silver Ghost.

  Four-year-old Washington Bridge, Mark Dedomenico LLC and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's graded stakes-winning daughter of Yankee Gentleman, finished in a dead-heat for third place with It's Tea Time in the $125,000 Hillard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) run at Keeneland on April 22. Washington Bridge, who has earned $248,464, is a daughter of stakes winner and WTBOA September sale graduate Stirling Bridge, by Prized.

  2008 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale topper and multiple stakes winner Notoriously finished second in the $52,390 Brighouse Belles Stakes run at Hastings Racecourse on April 23. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Cherokee Run-Silver and Jade, by Eastern Echo, has earned $138,210. Finishing third in the 6 1/2-furlong race was multiple British Columbia champion racemare Wind Storm. The now seven-year-old daughter of Woodstead Farm stallion He's Tops has earned $278,584.

  The WASART board of directors wishes to thank everyone who so generously donated to WASART's fundraiser to send a trained team to Japan to assist with animal rescues and sheltering. Rather than send a WASART team to Japan, the board decided to donate the funds raised to World Vets, another nonprofit organization which had swiftly responded to the disaster by shipping pallets of veterinary medical supplies and equipment. Since April, World Vets has placed some of their 3,500 volunteer vets from around the world on the ground in Japan to work with local Japanese animal advocacy and rescue groups to provide veterinary attention to the many displaced, homeless, and abandoned animals in the stricken areas. World Vets still needs donations to continue their work in Japan and donations can be made on their website at www.worldvets.org.

Training Dates and Upcoming Events

  The registration deadline for the field response training scheduled for May 14-15, 2011, at the Sunset Lake Camp in Wilkeson is May 4. More information about the training, that is open to WASART members and the general public (adults only, please), can be obtained from Bill Daugaard, training director, at training@washingtonsart.org.

  On May 18, 2011, a region wide exercise called "Shake, Rattle & Roll" will be held in several counties, hosted by Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management. Volunteers are needed to play the role of a victim for hospital evacuations or as a citizen injured on the street after a large earthquake. To participate, you must be 16 years old or older, available all day, and willing to be moulaged, lifted and possibly transported to another location. Lunch, a commemorative t-shirt, a letter of community service hours and a special gift will be provided after the exercise's completion. To volunteer, contact Therese Quinn at Snohomish DEM at (425) 388-5075.

  "Pathways to Resilient Communities" is a two-day course hosted by Pierce College and Homeland Security's Center of Excellence in Pasco and Lakewood. The course is on building disaster plans that incorporate a public-private collaboration. The Pascocourse will be held at the Columbia Basin College on May 19-20, 2011, while the Lakewood course will be held at Clover Park Technical College on May 23-24, 2011. There is no charge to participants and lunch and refreshments will be provided. Online registration begins April 1 at www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/coe/event/. For more information, contact Linda Crerar at lcrerar@pierce.ctc.edu or (253) 912-3689.

  The 2011 State SAR Conference will be held at the Cowlitz County Regional Event & Exposition Center in Longview on May 20-22, 2011. The demonstrationwill show how to safety and effectively extract a large animal such as a horse, llama, etc., from a ditch or well then transport it in a recumbent position on a rescue glide to another location. WASART members and the general public are encouraged to participate in as many of the classes offered at the conference. For more information on the conference or to obtain a registration form, visit www.sarconwa.org.

  For more information on WASART, go to www.washingtonsart.org or call (360) 886-7276.

  Helen Sherry and Billie Klokstad's homebred filly Windy Sails finished second to Justenufappeal (ridden by Russell Baze) in the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 16. The Washington-bred three-year-old daughter of El Dorado Farms LLC's Private Gold-Summer Sails, by In Excess (Ire), earned $15,000 in the 1 1/16-mile turf test, approving her record to 2-31- from eight starts with earnings of $50,380. Mark Dedomenico LLC, John Carver and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's two-time 2011 Portland Meadows stakes winner Alec's Moon (Malibu Moon-Bello Cielo) finished third and has now earned $124,240 from her 4-2-1 record in nine starts.

  Four-year-old Mobius, a Washington-bred gelding sired by Woodstead Farm's He's Tops out of Mystery Night, by Knights Choice, bred by Dr. Charles Barth, took a five-furlong allowance race at Turf Paradise by five lengths on April 16.

  After finishing second in his first outing, Herman Sarkowsky's homebred Meritricious won a six-panel maiden special weight race by one length at Golden Gate Fields on April 17. The three-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Yes It's True is out of two-time Washington champion racemare Youcan'ttakeme, a $199,975 stakes-winning daughter of He's Tops who also was bred and raced by the Seattle businessman.

  Mutually Benefit, a four-year-old daughter of Dynaformer out of French classic winner Macoumba, by Mr. Prospector, won a mile maiden special weight over Santa Anita Park's turf course on April 15. The new winner is a half-sister to 2011 Washington leading sire Parker's Storm Cat, who stands at Gibson Thoroughbred Farm, and to also to leading national sire Malibu Moon.

  Trainer Mike Chambers saddled his 68th winner at the 2010-11 Turf Paradise meet when Dan Agnew and John Xitco's Let's Dream Again won an about seven-furlong allowance/$16,000 optional claiming race on April 18. The four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of El Corredor-Let's Dance Again, by Green Dancer, who was claimed out of the race, has won seven of 13 starts and earned $82,340. Chambers leads all trainers at the Arizona meet, which is scheduled to end May 8, in both wins and in money earned ($411,491).

  Dr. George Todaro and Jerry and Janet Hollendorfer's Life Is a Rock won a mile allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on April 17. The three-year-old California-bred son of Globalize-Tadita, by Indian Charlie, has won three races and earned $69,844.

  Ms. G. I. Jane, the five-year-old California-bred daughter of One Man Army who finished third in the $50,000 Work the Crowd Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 23, is out of Beware the Night, by Knight in Savannah, and is from the immediate family of 2010 Washington broodmare of the year Windsong Maria. Washington-bred stakes mare Point of Reference finished fifth in the mile turf race.

  Lilacs and Lace, the three-year-old daughter of Flower Alley who won the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on April 9, received her early training at Dr. Mark Dedomenico's Pegasus Thoroughbreds Rehabilitation and Training Center in Redmond.

  Grade 1 stakes winner Turbulent Descent, added her fifth victory in six tries when the sophomore daughter of Congrats-Roger's Sue, by Forestry, won the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes(G2), a seven-furlong race run at Keeneland on April 17. She has now earned $618,350 for the partners who own her, including Renton resident Steve Zerda. The Mike Puype trainee is being pointed for the June 11 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

  Little Shiney, a five-year-old West Virginia-bred daughter of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat out of Oh Shiney, by Chimes Band, finished second in the $50,000 Original Gold Stakes run a Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on April 16. She has won six races and earned $199,070.

  Also run on the same date at the West Virginia track was the $55,000 Webb Synder Stakes, in which Osborne Farms homebred Ryan's Gold ran third in the 4 1/2-furlong sprint. The six-year-old Arizona-bred son of Pulse Ranch stallion Stolen Gold has earned $142,865. This is not the first Ryan's Gold bred and raced by Osborne Farm. Their first Ryan's Gold, a 1997 Washington-bred son of Snohomish County-Sparkling Gold, by Champagne Supper, won two races and earned $6,976.

  Four-year-old Alberta-bred Cool Kahuna, one of five stakes winners produced out of Devil's Favour, a daughter of Devil On Ice, won an about nine-furlong turf allowance at Tampa Bay Downs on April 23, increasing his earnings to $120,278.

  Ask Eddy, a four-year-old gelded son of Victory Gallop, took a 8.32-furlong allowance at Hawthorne Race Course on April 23. The now $62,748 earner and his Grade 3-winning half-sister Holy Nova, who earned nearly $500,000, are out of the Matty G matron Starline.

  Also on April 23, three-year-old Sheriff Cogburn, a Kentucky-bred son of Vindication out of You and I's stakes-winning daughter Sweet Nanette, finished second to Arcadian in the $57,000 Golden Circle Stakes run at Prairie Meadows.

  Ellen Parker, in her March/April 2011 copy of Pedlines has named champion Chris Evert and her daughters Six Crowns and Nijinsky Star, Family 23B, as the latest additions to her list of Reines-de-Course.  Among the many first-class runners stemming from the trio are champions Chief's Crown and Special Duty, Grade/Group 1 winners Sightseek, Tates Creek, Lambent Light, Etoile Montante, Classic Crown, Dominican and Grade 1-placed top Washington sire Tribunal.

  Tyler Baze, the Eclipse Award-winning 28-year-old Washington born rider who has been sidelined since last July when he was injured in a starting gate accident at Del Mar, returned to races at Turf Paradise on April 25.

  Patti Gibson, of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm, home of 2011 Washington leading sire Parker's Storm Cat, informs that both Howard Belvoir's stakes-placed Share the Knight (by Knights Choice), the dam of Washington horse of the year and Longacres Mile (G3) winner Wasserman and stakes winner Perfect Finish; and Keith and Jan Swagerty's Chedoodle (by Slewdledo), dam of multiple stakes winner No Flies On Doodle, have been bred to the son of Storm Cat and confirmed in foal.

  Julia Rose, the dam of 2010 Washington horse of the year Noosa Beach, produced a Washington-foaled full brother to the three-time champion on April 16 for Pam and Neal Christopherson. The daughter of Basket Weave was returned to their sire Harbor the Gold. On March 23, the Christopherson's 2010 Oregon broodmare of the year Silver City Rose, by Tiffany Ice, foaled a Washington-bred colt by Harbor the Gold, making him a full brother to Oregon champion Catalina Harbor and 2010 Angie C. Stakes winner Carrabelle Harbor.

Joseph Mooney

  Veteran Seattle sportswriter Joe Mooney, 66, passed away on April 8, 2011. Born on May 17, 1943, in Butte, Montana, he was the eldest of nine children born to Thomas Joseph and Anne (Myers) Mooney. He married Kay (Crotty) in September 1966 and the following year embarked on what would be a 30-year career at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In his years at the paper, Joe served as a sportswriter, member of the editorial board, columnist and general assignment reporter. In the 1970s, he was known as "The Betting Man" for his daily handicap and wagers column.

  He is survived by his wife, Kay; children, Matt, Zack and Jatheen Mooney and Beth (Mike) Mulligan; grandchildren, Kathleen and Reilly Mulligan; sisters,Diane (Darold) Eberhardt; Theresa (Jim) Blazek; Mary (Brian) Harrison; Jeanne (Frank) Cannon; Jodi (Terry) Holzwarth; and Toni (Marty) Doornbos; and brother, Ed (Peggy) Mooney and Mike (Jill) Mooney.

Tamara Jo Paulson

 Tami Paulson, 53, passed away after a long battle with cancer on April 14, 2011. She was born in Yakima on July 23, 1957, to Ken and Joyce Paulson and spent most of her life in the Yakima area. A graduate of Eisenhower High School, she attended Whitworth College in Spokane for two years. She later went to work for Purple Cross Insurance Company in Seattle and it was there she met and married Vaughn Langley with whom she had three sons. Her father Ken and late uncle Earl (see March 4, 2011, Gate-to-Wire e-newsletter archived at www.washingtonthoroughbred.com or April/May issue of Washington Thoroughbred) bred many state champions and stakes winners at their Paulson Brothers Thoroughbred Farm and Training Center in Granger.

  She was preceded in death by her mother, Joyce. Tami is survived by her sons, Nicholas and Ryan, of Yakima, and Trevor, of Seattle; their father, Vaughn Langley, of Seattle; her father and stepmother, Ken and Patricia Paulson, of Prosser; and brother, Mark Paulson, of Yakima.

Roy Franklin Steele

  Horseman and Thoroughbred trainer Roy Steele, 89, passed away in California on April 10, 2011. Born in Prinston, Oregon, on November 19, 1921, Roy left home at age 14 to become a jockey and his first wins came in Calexico, Mexico in 1936, where the bush tracks didn't require a license to ride.

  In 1938 he traveled north to Longacres, where he got his jockey license while under the wing of trainer B. "Hap" Anderson and his wife Dolly. One of his early wins at Longacres was aboard Bilxhea in 1939.

  Roy joined the US Naval Reserve shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and served until July 1943. Upon his discharge Roy weighed 125 pounds and was considered too heavy to ride, so he took out his trainer's license in 1944 and had winners in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Canada and both Southern and Northern California until he saddled his final horse in June 1989 at Stockton. While statistics for his training career are not completely available before 1963, he had 464 winners from 1963-89 and the earners of $1,780,634.

  Known on the backside as "Silent Steele," one of his most popular runners was the nearly-white Buttermilk Skiies, who won the 1969 Seafair Queen Stakes at Longacres. He also was the trainer of future Washington horse of the year Mustard Plaster when he won the 1962 Tacoma and British Columbia handicaps. He conditioned his namesake Silent Steele to take the 1961 Tacoma Handicap and won the second division of that same race in 1968 with New Concept. Among his other stakes winners were Fifty Calibre (1962 Washington Futurity), Honey Webb (1961 Spokane Handicap) and Marse H. (1964 Mercer Girls Stakes).

  His daughters Janet and Ivy, remember their father impressing them with "every horse is an individual and has a key and you have to take the time to find it and unlock that horse's hidden potential."

  After being based at Longacres during the summer, Steele would head to the family's Yakima farm during the winter months to start training the latest crop of yearlings.

  In 1971,Roy purchased a farm near Vacaville in California and raced on the Northern California circuit.

  He is survived by his ex-wife Eileen "Ikey" Steele; daughters, Ivy and Janet Steele; grandchildren, Cale, Winter and Taylor-Rose; great-granddaughter Swazie; sister, Edith; niece, Dulca.