Three-year-old Sudden Arrival scored her second win for Rosemarie Hominuik when she took a $12,000 claiming race by 7 3/4 lengths at Northlands Park on September 28. Bred and sold at the Washington sale by Rick and Debbie Pabst, Sudden Arrival is a Washington-bred daughter of Tribal Rule out of the stakes-winning Demon Begone mare Sudden Departure.

  Multiple stakes-placed 2009 WTBOA September sale yearling Majorca Gold took a six-furlong allowance race at Portland Meadows by two lengths on September 28. Owned by Rancho Viejo and Lisa Baze and bred in Washington by Dale Mahlum, the son of El Dorado Farms LLC's Private Gold-Majorca, by Salem Drive, has won six races and earned $82,546.

  2011 September sale graduate Beau Diablo finished second in his first start, a $30,000 maiden claiming race at Santa Anita Park on October 7 for trainer Vann Belvoir and Pay Dirt Racing. Beau Diablo is a Washington-bred son of Bedford Falls-Asuraslew, by Slewdledo, bred by Jill Heerensperger (Hoffman).

  Washington-bred two-year-old fillies ran one-two in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Turf Paradise on October 6. Breeder Bill Nooney and trainer Robbie Baze teamed together for the win with She'sontopyodeling, a daughter of Woodstead Farm's He's Tops out of Lotta Yodeling, by Swiss Yodeler. Finishing second by a half-length was Debra Larson, Michael V. Scallon and Dixie Hitchcock's Stylish Margin, a daughter of Benchmark-Our Monstarr, by Demons Begone, bred and sold by Connie Belshay and Debbie Pabst in the 2011 WTBOA sale.

  Stakes-placed 2007 WTBOA summer sale alumni Zagreus won a $15,000 claiming race at Northlands Park by 4 1/4 lengths on October 6. Bred in California by Dale Mahlum, the six-year-old gelding by Yonaguska-Chasseur Dame, by French Legionaire, improved his record to 7-7-3 from 29 starts and his earnings to $92,518.

True Blue

  Rescheduled from its original August 26 date, the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes, in its 31st running, was the feature of the final Saturday card on September 22. The $50,000 stakes drew a field of five two-year-old fillies.

  As expected, Northwest Farms LLC and C and M Racing's Blueberry Smoothie was the odds-on choice at three-to-ten. The royally-bred daughter of Giant's Causeway had been impressive in both her previous starts, a 4 1/2-length tally in a maiden special weight race in July and a good second to her stablemate Goin to the Window in the Angie C. Stakes in early August.

Partnered by 2012 Emerald leading rider Juan Gutierrez, Blueberry Smoothie was bumped at the start of the 6 1/2-furlong race but soon made her way to the front of the field. Once there, the Tom Wenzel trainee was never headed, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:16.45.

  "The plan was to stay in front," said Gutierrez, who was also aboard Northwest Farms LLC's Exclusive Diva for her allowance victory in the race following the Shinpoch. "When we took the lead, I wanted to get her to relax. I just waited and waited to try to save as much horse as I could. Then I asked her and she had plenty left. She's a nice filly." Gutierrez also rode two other winners on the 11-race card.

 Pegasus Syndicate #7's Innocent Love (Grand Slam-Rich in Love), fresh off a 3 1/4-length maiden special weight score, finished second. Coming in 1 1/4 lengths behind her in third was Kama'aina Thoroughbreds' now twice stakes-placed maiden Madame Pele (Salt Lake-Striking Scholar).

  Blueberry Smoothie, who is out of Emerald champion Shampoo (by Gulch), joined her granddam Taste the Passion and "Aunt" Smarty Deb as one of four Shinpoch winners bred by Jerre Paxton's Northwest Farms. The dark bay filly, whose yearling half-brother by Medaglia d'Oro was sold by Paxton for $360,000 at the recent Keeneland sale, upped her earnings to $46,943. Blueberry Smoothie is co-owned by Paxton with Corey Kinder and Mihai Tiru's C and M Racing.

Broadway Lullaby

  For the first time in its 75-year history, the Gottstein Futurity was contested at a flat mile and for the third time in the last six years, Doris Harwood saddled the winner the top Washington juvenile race.

  With two-year-old male of the meet honors up on the line, a field of six went to the post for the $65,000 event, including top contenders Mike Man's Gold, Music of My Soul and the punters' four-to-five favorite Finallygotabentley.

  Mike Man's Gold was quickly out of the gate, setting early fractions of :23.04 and :45.48. Running just outside of him, Music of My Soul, with Leslie Mawing steering, was setting up for his run for glory. As the field reached the quarter mile pole, Finallygotabentley moved up to make his bid. Music of My Soul and Finallygotabentley then raced as a team down the stretch, with first one and then the other's tenacious head in front, but as they approached the wire, Music of My Soul gamely drew away to win the championship race by a half-length in a time of 1:36.90.

  "When (Finallygotabentley) came up on our outside, my horse eyed him right away and dug back in," stated Mawing. "My horse was running fast the whole way, I just didn't want to stop his momentum. I knew this horse was game. He didn't want to lose today."

  A handsome full brother to two-time Washington and Emerald horse of the year Noosa Beach - who is also trained by Harwood - Music of My Soul races for Ken and Marleen Alhadeff's historic Elttaes Stable. A win in the Gottstein has always been high on Ken's wish list, being the grandson of Longacres' founder Joseph Gottstein, for whom the race honors.

  "I want to give credit to my grandfather," said a jubilant Ken in the winner's circle. "He believed in Thoroughbreds, Thoroughbred racing and Washington-breds. The horse did it, but it was fueled by the 'music of my soul,'" he added. Not only was he referring to his emotional state, but to the lead actor's opening song in the Alhadeff-produced 2010 Tony Award-winning musical Memphis.

  Finallygotabentley, who races for Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms LLC, defeated Dr. Rodney Orr's three place runner Raised a Secret (Songandaprayer-Sensitive Soul) by 4 3 /4 lengths.

  Music of My Soul, a Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave, was bred by Pam and Neal Christopherson's Bar C Racing Stable Inc. The Alhadeffs paid $82,000, the second highest price at the 2011 WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, for their champion who now has earned $67,132 back of his purchase price with a 2-1-0 record in five starts.

  It marked the 56th Emerald stakes win for Harwood, the track's all-time leader in the category.

Challenges Met

  The traditional closing day Ashbaugh Beal Claiming Challenge consisted of six starter allowances.

  John and Janene Maryanski's Rocky's Quest took both the $16,000 Itstufftobegood purse and claimer of the meet honors. Homestretch Farms Inc. and Ellen Follett's The Gang and I won the top distaffer challenge, the $16,000 Sassy Jo Lassie, coming home with a three-quarters of a length win over her stablemate Private Fortune.

  In the other challenge results, Hurricane Racing Stable LLC's Tough of Elegance won the $12,000 Hit a Star event; Bill Jensen's Tapadero took the $12,000 Market Master purse; the $10,000 Pretty Peggy Slew was won by One Horse Will Do Corporation and Tina and Scott Saxwold's Roarified; and Robert Lampard and Mike Laurine's Big Daddy's Vision came home first in the $10,000 Big Daddy's Dream.

2012 Meet Honors

  Michael and Amy Feuerborn's ultra-consistent Class Included was named horse of the meet in a tight contest with Fleur de Lis Stable' (Dr. Raymond Kwik and Paul Goldberg) Longacres Mile (G3) runner-up Winning Machine and Karl Kreig's four-time 2012 Emerald stakes winner Makors Finale. All three runners are homebreds.

  Class Included, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Include who was also named top older filly or mare of the meet, helped propel the Feuerborns to their second consecutive top spot among Emerald money-winning owners.

  In addition to Winning Machine - who earned older male and sprinter titles - Kwik and Goldberg also had the top three-year-old filly of the meet in Champangeandcavier, a two-year younger half-sister to their champion male.

  Makors Finale was awarded top three-year-old male and Washington-bred honors.

  Juvenile titles were split between Elttaes Stables' Gottstein Futurity winner Music of My Soul and Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms LLC's unbeaten Angie C. Stakes winner Goin to the Window.

  Juan Gutierrez earned his first riding title with 117 wins and also earned the top riding achievement award, while conditioner Frank Lucarelli's 43 victories gave him his fifth training title.

  Don and Wanda Munger finished tops in victories among all owners with 20 wins, all with homebreds and Don was also honored with the meet's top training achievement.

  The esteemed Martin Durkan Award, for trainers, and Lindy Award, for riders, were bestowed on Dan Markle and Javier Matias, respectively.

Gemstones

  Other impressive closing day performances were racked up by Richard S. Pasko's homebred two-year-old filly Fever's Bet, a California-bred daughter of Stormin Fever-Castle Bet, by Peterhof, who won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race by 10 1/4 lengths; and Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms LLC's stakes-winning Exclusive Diva who finished her 2012 Emerald campaign with a 2 1/2-length allowance tally.

  John Johnson, Eric Schweiger and Brian Eng scored the top three finishes in Emerald's closing day handicapping contest. Winner Johnson, of Lake Forest Park, also earned an all-expenses paid trip to the 2013 national handicapping contest to be held in Las Vegas.

  For the last three years Washington has held steady with 1.1 percent of the North American number of mares bred. Twenty years ago that figure was 3.8 percent.

  In Oregon in 2011, 220 mares were bred, down 6.8 percent from 2010 when 236 mares were covered. So far, 106 live foals have been reported.

  On October 7, In Lingerie added a two-length tally in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes against older fillies and mares at Keeneland to score her first Grade 1 victory. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record 4-2-1 from seven starts and her earnings are now at $712,265.

Local Consignors, Runners and Stallions

  Jerre Paxton's Northwest Farms LLC sold several yearlings. Tops among them was a Tapit half-brother to Emerald Downs stakes-placed Rainier Ice for $390,000. The next highest price he received was for a Medaglia d'Oro half-brother to 2012 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes winner Blueberry Smoothie out of Emerald champion Shampoo for $360,000. Tim McMurry's Fleetwood Bloodstock signed the ticket at $85,000 for a First Samurai half-brother to 2012 Emerald juvenile filly champion Goin' to the Window. A Curlin colt from two-time Emerald stakes winner Dinner At Arlene's brought $70,000. Paxton also sold a First Samurai filly out of an A.P. Indy-sired half-sister to Rainier Ice for $47,000; a Dynaformer filly out of seven-time Emerald and Hastings Racecourse stakes winner Lasting Code; a Giant's Causeway half-brother to 2012 Emerald stakes winner Exclusive Diva (a half-brother by Curlin to Exclusive Diva's Grade 3-winning dam Puxa Saco was purchased for $150,000 by Fleetwood Bloodstock); and a First Samurai filly, the first foal out of a daughter of Lasting Code. Three RNAs for the Yakima-based farm were also spotted: an Elusive Quality colt out of Emerald champion Taste the Passion, and thereby half-brother to Emerald champions Shampoo and Smarty Deb ($105,000); a Candy Ride (Arg) filly, the first foal out of Washington Oaks winner Elusive Horizon ($85,000); and another Candy Ride filly, this one out of US Bank Stakes winner Bisbee's Prospect ($80,000).

  2011 Washington Hall of Fame breeders Theiline and Doug Scheumann and their Grousemont Farm sold two: a filly by Elusive Quality for $330,000 who is a full sister to French highweight two-year-old colt and now major sire Elusive City and stakes winner/stakes producer Parisian Affair; and an Empire Maker filly for $325,000, the first foal out of Grade 1 winner Downthedustryroad. Grousemont Farm also bred the Grade 2-winning dam of Hip 1 in the sale, an Irish-bred son of Danehill Dancer which sold for $250,000.

  Michael and Amy Feuerborn sold a Proud Citizen colt out of their stakes-winning Biaconi Baby for $110,000. 2005 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes winner Chestnut Lady, who the Feuerborns raced, but no longer own, had a colt by Bluegrass Cat bring $30,000. Life Is Beautiful, the dam of the Feuerborn's Washington Breeders' Oaks winner A Classic Life and granddam of the Maple Valley couple's 2012 Emerald Downs horse of the meet Class Included, had a colt by sprint champion Midnight Lute bring $35,000.

  Four yearlings, all out of daughters of Washington broodmare of the year Taj Aire and from the immediate family of Washington champions Mahaska, Handyman Bill and Enumclaw Girl, were sold. The Medaglia d'Oro colt out of Grade 3 winner Elusive Diva was hammered down for $240,000; a colt by More Than Ready out of stakes-placed No Lullaby sold for $$210,000; an Exchange Rate filly out of stakes-placed Diva's Seastar was purchased for $115,000; and a Tiznow colt out of Touch of Charm brought $100,000.

  Washington-bred and WTBOA sales alumni Brooklynsangel, who is already the dam of G2 stakes-placed Tiny Woods, had a Roman Ruler colt bring $65,000.

  A colt descending from Washington horse of the year Hooplah sired by Medaglia d'Oro sold for $600,000.

  Washington horse of the year Delicate Vine's stakes-winning and G2 stakes-producing daughter Rayelle is the dam of a Zensational colt which sold for $90,000.

  2002 Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks winner Erica's Smile (by Williamstown) had a filly by Mr. Greeley - a full sister to $135,279 stakes-placed Derivative - sell for $80,000.

  An Empire Maker filly out of Emerald champion Karis Makaw - a half-sister to Blue Ribbon Farm stakes winner and stallion Nationhood - sold for $200,000, while an Unbridled's Song colt out of a half-sister to Karis Makaw and Nationhood sold for $150,000.

  A half-sister by Tapit to the Heerensperger-raced multiple Grade 2 stakes winner Bourbon Bay and Canadian champion filly Ginger Brew was purchased for $525,000.

  WTBOA sales star and multiple Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger's half-sister by Tale of the Tale brought $150,000.

  An Indian Charlie filly out of Group 1 winner Macoumba, thus making her a half-sister to Washington leading sire Parker's Storm Cat, was sold for $650,000. A Smart Strike filly out of a stakes-winning half-sister to Bar C Racing Stables' top Oregon sire Harbor the Gold and champion two-year-old Boston Harbor sold for $375,000.

  A Congrats colt out of a half-sister to stakes winner and Washington sire Beefchopper sold for $150,000.

Other Washington-connected Horses

  Washington-bred Avalanche Lily (by Grand Slam) , a half-sister to three stakes winners, including Gottstein Futurity winner Horatio and Diane Kem Stakes winner Skewing, was represented by a Indygo Shiner colt which brought $135,000.

  A Sharp Humor colt out of the stakes-placed half-sister to Washington champion Schoolin You was sold for $21,000.

  A son of Petionville out of Washington-bred stakes winner I Got Silver, a $134,112 earning daughter of Petersburg, sold for $4,000.

Local Buyers

  Michael Puhich, as agent for the partnership of Mark Dedomenico and Canadian Glenn Todd, led all Pacific Northwest buyers with 15 purchases for a total of $615,000. The top price they paid was $75,000 for a colt from the first crop of Travers Stakes (G1) winner Colonel John. The other eight colts were sired by Bluegrass Cat, Dixie Union, Grand Slam, Hard Spun, Include, Mr. Greeley, Songandaprayer and Tale of the Cat. The six fillies were sired by Broken Vow, Dixie Union, El Corredor, Mineshaft, Street Boss and Yes It's True.

  Frank L. Gaunt's name was seen on four purchases for a $105,000 total. The colts are offspring of Curlin, English Channel and Roman Ruler and the filly was also sired by Curlin.

  Chris Randall signed for three fillies (by First Samurai, Old Fashioned and Stevie Wonderboy) and two colts (by Dunkirk and Purim)

  Dana Halvorson, as agent under his Halvorson Bloodstock Services, purchased four fillies, daughters of Birdstone, Bluegrass Cat, Sharp Humor and Tale of the Cat.

  Top northwest conditioner Tim McCanna's name appeared on three purchase contracts for fillies by City Zip and Pollard's Vision and a colt by Grand Slam.

  Trainer Charles Essex signed for a colt by Offlee Wild and a filly by Aragorn (Ire).

  Bob Cappelletti as agent purchased two fillies, one by Broken Vow and the other by Kodiak Kowboy.

  Horseplayers Racing Club signed for an Ide colt. Valorie Lund purchased a filly by El Corredor. Darrin Paul brought home an English Channel filly and former Playfair leading rider Scott Bersgrud purchased a colt by Spring At Last.

  Other current and/or former Pacific Northwest horsemen who purchased yearlings include: Al Bell, David Forster, Mark Glatt, Green Hill Stables, Ed Moger, Ole A. Nielsen, Chuck Peery, Jay Taylor's Jethorse LLC and Ray Tracy.

  Among the horses bought by the Idaho-based Green Hill Stables of Ray Hussa was a filly by Kitten's Joy. That filly's value went up significantly just two days after her purchase when her half-sister won the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Belmont Park.

RNAs

Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Catalogs 3,958

  A total of 3,958 horses have been cataloged for the upcoming November 6-16 sale. The breakdown for the Kentucky auction is 1,890 broodmares or broodmare prospects, 1,691 weanlings, 363 horses of racing age, four yearlings, nine stallions and one stallion share.

  For many years, Xpressbet has been a close friend and supporter of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). We recognize the vital role that you, the community of horse owners and breeders, play in the industry, and we proudly stand with TOBA and its initiatives.

  As we prepare for the Breeders' Cup World Championships [November 4 and 5 at Santa Anita Park], racing's exhilarating showcase of the year's best talent, we are reminded of our great community and the individuals who make it strong - individuals like you, members of TOBA, people of great passion who are committed to success, and who devote their care and energy to the sport we all love.

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  We look forward to continuing our relationship with TOBA in the years to come. Good luck at the races, in the breeding shed and in the sales ring. 

  Frank L. Gaunt's stakes-winning Stormy Lucy finished third behind winner Marketing Mix in the $250,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) run at Santa Anita Park on September 2 and increased her earnings to $206,045. Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Stormy Lucy is a three-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic out of the Dixieland Band mare Here Comes Lucinda.

  Two-year-old Mr Hall's Opus took her second win in three starts when the daughter of Officer won a mile/$40,000-$35,000 optional claiming race at Laurel Park on September 27. A half-sister to $230,800 stakes winner Truth and Justice, the Kentucky-bred filly is out of the 2003 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes winner Sala De Oro (by Expelled). Sala De Oro was bred by Barbara Ratcliff's Coal Creek Farm and raced by Dave Mowat's Ten Broeck Farm Inc.

  Rozamund Barclay's 2011 British Columbia champion Northern Causeway won an allowance/$35,000 optional claiming race at Hastings Racecourse on September 30. The four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Giant's Causeway-Getaway Girl - who is trained by Len Kasmerski, has earned $238,573.

  Justice for Al, who was bred in California by Allan E. Floyd, won the $8,845 B Cup Three Year Old and Up Classic at Lethbridge on September 29 by 2 1/4 lengths. The six-year-old gelding is out of Washington-bred stakes winner Dolly's Hit Lady, a daughter of Ihtimam.

  2000 Eclipse Award winning apprentice and Washington native Tyler Baze, who last rode August 31, 2011, at Del Mar, returned to the winner's circle in his second mount on October 5 when he rode Warren's Sugarbuzz to victory in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park. Baze also scored a win with Travesura on the Sunday, California card.

 Two offspring of Washington-bred multiple stakes winner Rollette (by Basket Weave), both bred in Kentucky by John Bredeson and Greg Geiser, won by 1 3/4 lengths at Fresno on October 7. Three-year-old La Chipsa, by Toccet, won a $16,000 claiming race and increased her earnings to $42,742 with her second victory. Four-year-old Island Bordeaux, a son of Cuvee, took a $25,000 optional claiming race and improved his record to 3-1-0 from six starts and his earnings to $44,070. Both runners are trained by Keith Nations.

  Charles B. Case's homebred Fable Haven, a three-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Pulse Ranches' Stolen Gold out of Umbrella Girl, by Slewdledo, won a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Fresno by  

3 1 /2 lengths on October 7. The new winner is trained by Vann Belvoir.

  First-time starter Super Ninety Nine, a two-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Pulpit, won a seven-furlong maiden special weight race at Santa Anita Park on October 8. Bred by Northwest Farms LLC, the new winner - who is trained by Bob Baffert - was a $200,000 Keeneland September sale yearling and is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Exogenetic, who is also the dam of Northwest Farm's five-time Emerald Downs stakes winner Elusive Horizon, a daughter of Elusive Quality who earned $241,715.

  Two members of Washington broodmares of the year Whimsical Aire and her daughter Taj Aire won races at Santa Anita Park on October 8. First to the winner's circle was three-year-old Floracita, a daughter of El Corredor who won a maiden $30,000 claiming race by 1 3/4 lengths. Her dam, stakes-placed No Lullaby, by Brahms, is one of five stakes horses, including Washington champion Handyman Bill and Grade 3 winner Elusive Diva, out of stakes winner Taj Aire, a daughter of Taj Alriyadh and Whimsical Aire. Whimsical Aire's champion daughter Mahaska is the dam of Quizzical, the three-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Cindago who took a six-furlong allowance/$25,000 optional claiming race by 3 3/4 lengths and upped her earnings to $89,350. Both fillies are raced by Susan and Allen Branch and trained by Mark Glatt. The Branches bred Floracita and Quizzical was bred by Susan's mother Doris Konecny.

  Two-time Grade 1 winner Groupie Doll took the Grade 2 $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths at Keeneland on October 6. The four-year-old daughter of Bowman's Band - who improved her record to 8-3-2 from 15 starts and has earned $1,047,850. Her dam, Deputy Doll (by Silver Deputy), is a half-sister to Seawind Farm's Emerald Downs and Turf Paradise stakes winner and sire Russellthemussell.

  Charles E. Fipke's homebred Munnings Sister, who had taken the June 23 California Wine Stakes at Pleasanton by 4 1/2 lengths while under trainer Tim McCanna's care, won the $78,400 Dream Supreme Stakes at Belmont Park on October 7 to increase the three-year-old daughter of Speightown's earnings to $122,550.

  Unbeaten juvenile Washington-bred stakes winner Roveing Patrol, a daughter of Nacheezmo bred by Don and Wanda Munger, was due to make her third start in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on October 6, but unfortunately acted up, fell and then got stuck underneath the starting gate. Dreaming of Julia won the mile race. Roveing Patrol's status is currently unknown.

  Two runners owned in partnership by Jack and Teresa Hodge and their Oakcrest Farm placed in Grade 1 stakes at during the first weekend of 2012 Keeneland's fall meet. Multiple graded stakes winner Willcox Inn, a four-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, finished second to Wise Dan in the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes held on October 6 and has now earned $886,547. The following day, Upperline, a five-year-old multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Maria's Mon, ran third in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, increasing her earnings total to $697,985.

  Madiera Park, a three-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Langfuhr, took the $51,085 Duchess of York Stakes at Northlands Park by six lengths on October 6, increasing her earning to $108,745. She is one of a trio of stakes winners produced out of Washington Oaks winner Capilano, a $113,875 multiple stakes-winning daughter of Demons Begone.

  Former jockey and trainer Jimmy Mayer, 71, died of cancer at the Salt Lake University Medical Center on September 13, 2012. Born in Allen, Oklahoma, to Clarence and Irene Mayer, the family moved to Washington when Jimmy was a youth.

  After serving in the US Army in Vietnam, he began his long career in horses, first as a jockey and later as a trainer. He married Judith Fischer and trained many winners throughout Washington, California and Canada with her by his side. Among the best runners he trained was Pappy, who won five stakes at Longacres - including the 1980 Longacres Derby - and one at Yakima Meadows under his supervision. He also trained 1983 Washington champion two-year-old filly Miss Ebony and two-time Yakima stakes winner D. T. Express. Among his other stakes winners was future Washington horse of the year Snipledo, with whom he won his first two stakes races and he was also the trainer of record for Steel a Look when she won her first stakes. Jimmy had a total of seven stakes winners at Yakima Meadows, to rank among the track's leaders in that category. From 1976 through his final starter on May 31, 1996, at Yakima Meadows, Mayer had 1,513 starters with a record of 263-217-184 and $1,026,405 in earnings.

  After retiring from the track, Jim continued to break and train young horses and work with his cattle.

  Jimmy loved the trips to the hills working cattle with the boys and spending nights around the campfire telling tall tales. He also enjoyed fishing and his yearly trip to Nevada.

  He was a lifetime member of the Tampico Saddle Club, Yakima Sheriff's Posse, Highland Saddle Club, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

  He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith; parents; and nephew, Todd Decoto. He is survived by his daughter, Lolah Lee; five grandchildren, Joplynn, Jeanetta, Bodhi, Baeden and Jenaveve; mother-in-law, Leona Fischer; sisters, Sue (Gene) Decoto-Hill and Doris Meyer; brother, Richard Meyer; companion, Jan Trujillo; and many nieces and nephews.