Washington Cup XI - Washington's champion style

   What more could a Washington horse racing fan want? Washington Cup XI was blessed with beautiful late summer weather, held at a first-class location with fields consisting of Washington's top racing product. And then there were the six $50,000 stakes, most of which were renamed this season to reflect the generous sponsorship of local and national companies.

 

Reed Palmer Photo

That Peaceful, EZ Feeling

   Ron Crockett Inc.'s Cielator (Delineator-Cielo Otono) set the pace for the first half-mile with fractions of :23.22 and :46.22. Racing just off Cielator's lead was E Z Kitty ridden by Anne Sanguinetti. As the pair passed the three-quarter mark, EZ Kitty poked her head in front of her rival and drew away in the stretch to win her third stakes of the meet by 3 3/4 lengths. Her final time of 1:41.43 was good enough to get her a 93 BRIS Speed Rating among the week's stakes races.

   Squatting Dog Stable and Rusty Warwick's Royal Moses (Cahill Road-Miss Wagon Lode) finished third, four lengths behind Cielator.

   "It was a carbon copy of the (Emerald Distaff), but she was going even easier," said Sanguinetti. "She's very professional.

   "I feel like she knows what I want, and I know what she wants. Kitty, she loves a fight. She wants to chase a horse. If she gets out by herself, she's not interested anymore because it's easy. She wants to be in that fight..."

   Trained by Emerald newcomer Jeff Metz, who currently leads the trainer standings 38-37 over Frank Lucarelli, E Z Kitty races for Bruce and Cass Maller's Highlander Racing Stable LLC. A five-year-old daughter of He's Tops-Envision the Cat, by Lost Code, bred by Jerry and Peggy Woods, E Z Kitty had won the 2011 John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes for Tige Too Racing Stables. Washington's 2012 champion older filly has a lifetime record of 12-4-3 from 22 starts and earnings of $263,340, of which five wins and $165,024 have been earned this year.

Bluff Not

   Meanwhile, He's Not Bluffin, ridden by Chantal Sutherland-Kruse in the rider's Emerald debut, was allowed to settle before splitting rivals near the furlong marker and going on to defeat Coal Creek Farm homebred Somewhere With You (Cahill Road-One for You) by three-quarters of a length for the lion's share of the purse. Music of My Soul held on for third, only a head back, but 9 1/2 lengths ahead of fourth place Mike Man's Gold in the field of six. Final race time was 1:35.52.

   "I was going to go outside, but the two horses in front of me were stopping," said Sutherland-Kruse who rode a picture-perfect ride. "Instead, I had to go between horses and my horse went through that hole really nicely and held his own. He's a really nice horse.

   "Emerald Downs is a really nice track," the popular rider added. "The (racing) surface is amazing, so is the air quality up here. Everything is really nice here. And the fans are outrageous. They're just awesome."

   Claimed by Sauci Belvoir, the wife of trainer Vann Belvoir and daughter-in-law of He's Not Bluffin's trainer Howard Belvoir, for $25,000 out of a winning effort on August 13, He's Not Bluffin has now won all three of his last starts and has a lifetime record of 4-0-1 from seven outings with earnings of $64,056.

   Bred by Nina and Ron Hagen, the half-brother to stakes winner Diamond View is a son of Raise the Bluff-Winning View, by Naevus.

Little Brother

   In 2008, two-year-old Noosa Beach stepped onto the Washington racing stage to win the then named Captain Condo Stakes during Washington Cup XI, his first stakes victory for the future three-time Washington champion and 12-time stakes winner.

   Last year, his full brother Music of My Soul won the Dennis Dodge Stakes on his journey to become Washington champion two-year-old.

   Now fast forward to 2013 when among the field of seven two-year-old colts and geldings - which included three highly thought of sons of Harbor the Gold - contesting the now-named Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge Stakes was Noosa Beach and Music of My Soul's little brother Noosito.

   Noosito, who races for Jeff Harwood's Last Rose Stable, was made the $1.70-to-one favorite, in spite of finishing third to Bar C Racing Stables Inc. and Desert Rose Racing LLC's homebred Del Rio Harbor in the WTBOA Lads Stakes. The two paternal half-brothers, both trained by Doris Harwood (who also conditioned Noosa Beach and trains Music of My Soul) dueled together throughout the six-furlong test with Noosito, ridden by Isaias Enriquez, prevailing by a neck in a hard-fought victory.

   REV Racing's maiden Mebossman (Petionville-Peaceful Wings) finished 5 1/4 lengths back in third. Final race time was 1:09.34.

   "He's a very good horse," said Enriquez. "He tries hard in the mornings. The first time out he won, but the second time (in the WTBOA Lads) he lost a shoe and had a tough trip.

   "Today, he broke very sharp and was very comfortable. A couple of guys put pressure on him early, but he was able to hold them off."

  It was the record-breaking fifth win in the juvenile stakes for trainer Harwood, who has saddled seven Washington Cup winners.

Wayne Nagai Photo

Chu(son) One

   Even though the Northwest Farms Stakes for two-year-old fillies drew the biggest field of the day, with nine distaffers competing in the six-panel race, the winner paid the least among the six stakes carded ($3.60-$2.60-$2.10) and drew off by the largest margin (seven lengths).

  After sprinting to a quick early lead, Chu and You (who has yet to race behind a runner in any of her races) was never headed, drawing off to defeat Z Thoroughbred Racing Partners III's Sunpenny (Good Reward-Cascade Corona) in a time of 1:09.42. Finishing three-quarters of a length back in third was Jeff Cissell's Belladiva (Harbor the Gold-Umbrella Girl).

   "It's too easy because she does almost everything for you," said Gutierrez of his speedy partner. "She made me work less. She's really good. I don't know what else I can say, she does everything right."

   A daughter of pensioned Grade 1 winner You and I, Chu and You is the second foal and probable state champion out of the unraced Volponi mare Bronze Charmer. Her four dominant wins (by a combined 20 lengths) have netted the bay filly's Maple Valley-based owners $84,249.

Light My Fire

   Beautranda, who had won a Northern California maiden special weight race last spring and is the first foal out of Emerald stakes winner Beaulena, went off as the $1.40-to-one favorite in the Comcast SportsNet Stakes (formerly the John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes).

   Sauci Belvoir's Say Say (Private Gold-Knight Weave), who Van Belvoir had claimed in her initial start at Emerald as a two-year-old and had since won two races in California, finished second, 5 1/2 lengths in front of Holy Dazzle.

   "She went down to California and came back today.to the Washington Cup ready to win," said Gutierrez, who was winning his second stakes of the day. "She was pulling me on the outside, and I told myself not to choke her, but save her for the last stretch. She did the rest." As of September 8, Gutierrez leads the Emerald riders' colony by both wins and money, 93-90 and $975,179-$887,795 to second place Isaias Enriquez.

   With Madame Pele's score, trainer Jim Penney continues to remain tied at the top of the Washington Cup leaderboard with Doris Harwood with seven win each. Penney has also recorded more wins than any other conditioner in the three-year-old filly stakes with three.

   Twice stakes-placed at Emerald last year as a two-year-old, including a second in the Diane Kem Stakes on Washington Cup X, Madame Pele had spent her sophomore season racing in Northern California where she won a maiden special race at Pleasanton in June.

   The daughter of Salt Lake-Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike, was named for the Pele, the Hawaiian

goddess

of fire, lightning, wind and volcanoes by her owners Zack and Beth Correa, who race under Kama'aina Thoroughbreds. Madame Pele would be the first of two stakes winners bred by Spokane's Char Clark on the exciting card.

Reed Palmer Photo

Strkye While the Iron's Hot

   Jim and Mona Hour's talented Stryker Phd has been knocking at the stakes door throughout the entire meet, finishing a fast closing second in all four of the older male stakes, all open contests, including the Longacres Mile (G3).

   Longshot Memphis Beach broke first and led the field though the first half-mile. Waiting in mid-field and much closer than his usual tactics, was Stryker Phd and rider Deborah Hoonan. As they angled out entering the stretch, Stryker Phd quickly drew off to win his first stakes by 3 1/4 lengths over Sharon Radke's Polish Dollar (Polish Gift-Spediacci) in 1:40.99. The final time was good enough for a 95 BRIS Speed Rating. R and R Warren LLC's Jebrica (Liberty Gold-Peaceful Wings) finished another 5 1/4 lengths back in third, in what was the 2011 Washington champion's tenth stakes placement.

   "The first part of the race the leaders were going around wide," said Hoonan. "The track was easy on the inside there, and then someone came in there and took my path. "Isaias (Enriquez aboard Jebrica) had me boxed in pretty good there, but it was set up just enough to where I could get through. Stryker Phd is a dream horse for me."

   Trained by Margo Lloyd, Stryker Phd improved his race record to 2-4-4- from 11 starts and upped his earnings to $124,466.

   Bred by Char Clark Thoroughbreds and Todd Havens, Stryker Phd is a four-year-old gelded son of Bertrando out of the unraced Smart Strike mare Striking Scholar. The results of the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and Madame Pele's victory in the Comcast SportsNet must be bittersweet for Clark, who sold their dam Striking Scholar for $36,000 to Todd and Shawn Hansen at the August 20 WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale.

Women Trainers and Jockeys WA Cup Stats

   Led by Doris Harwood's seven Washington Cup tallies, women trainers have saddled 18 winners: Bonnie Jenne (four), Connie Bouslaugh (two), Chris Stenslie (two), Margo Lloyd (one), Valorie Lund (one) and Sharon Ross (one).

   With the three scores on the 2013 Washington Cup card, women riders have now been aboard for 11 wins: Jennifer Whitaker (five), Sandi Gann (two), Deborah Hoonan (two), Anne Sanguinetti (one) and Chantal Sutherland-Kruse (one).

WTBOA Sales Horses Win Five WA Cup Events

   Not only was it a good day for Washington racing, Washington Cup XI was a spectacular day for horses who went through the WTBOA sales ring. Of the six winners, five runners, E Z Kitty, He's Not Bluffin, Madame Pele, Noosito and Stryker Phd are all WTBOA products. In the lone race won by a non-WTBOA-sold horse (Chu and You), WTBOA runners Sunpenny and Belladiva ran two-three. Additional seconds for WTBOA-sold stars were with Cielator and Say Say and additional third place finishers were earned by Music of My Soul, Mebossman and Jebrica. All-in-all WTBOA-sold runners scored 5-3-4 placements, two in each of the six races.

   And in fact, of the 25 races Emerald conducted from September 6-8, WTBOA sale alumni won a dozen contests.

WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

   2010 WTBOA sales graduates Mr Gnarly (Nacheezmo-Tricky Ray, by Xray), bred by Carol N. Noonan and Morn n' Last (Free At Last-Morn 'n Mist), bred by Jean Welch, finished one-two in a five-furlong maiden special weight race at Desert Park on August 31. Mr Gnarly, who races for Lacey Zabreznik, went gate-to-wire to win by six lengths.

   Multiple stakes winner Getrdonegotrdid, a six-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Hero's Honor-Way It should Be, by Stalwart, went gate-to-wire to take a seven-furlong Lethbridge allowance by 3 1/2 lengths on September 2. He has earned $65,772 with a record of 15-6-10 in 39 starts. On the same day, three-year-old Cinchman, a gelding by Katowice-Sat in Session, by Sir Session, bred in Washington by Tom and Becky Birklid, took his third win in an about seven-furlong allowance.

  Dixie Hitchcock, Delwyn V. Ellis and Debra Larson's talented "bad boy" Dallon's Gold won his second race in two outings when the Washington-bred two-year-old son of Private Gold-Winning Weave, by Basket Weave, won a $20,075 allowance race at Emerald Downs on September 2. Bred by Nina and Ron Hagen, the Dave Bennett trainee has taken his two races by a combined 13 1/2 lengths.

   2010 RNA Until You, who races for his breeder, Barbara Ratcliff's Coal Creek Farm, won a mile allowance test by a nose over Winning Machine at Emerald Downs on September 1. The four-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Jazil out of One for You, by Dayjur, who is trained by David B. Martinez, has won three races and earned $74,670.

   Three graduates from the 2012 sale won maiden juvenile races at Emerald Downs over the first full weekend in September. Miz Dyno, a daughter of Cahill Road-Escopazzo, by Capote, bred in Washington by Ron and Nina Hagen, took a $7,500 maiden claiming race by nine lengths on September 7 for Mike Phillips. The Alan Bozell trainee was claimed by Larry N. Ramnarine out of the six-furlong race. Also on the Saturday card, Sue and Tim Spooner's I Absolutely Will, a Louisiana-bred daughter of Doneraile Court-I Will I Will, by Chief's Crown, who had been sold by DiPietro Thoroughbreds, took a six-panel $25,000 maiden claimer by nearly four lengths. The new winner is trained by Dan Markle. With the win, the Spooners moved into the second spot on the all-time winning owners board at Emerald with 156 victories. On Sunday, the first race of the day was won by Dr. William Lien and trainer Neil Knapp's Oldtimers Vision, a Kentucky-bred son of Pollard's Vision-Quantuck, by Real Quiet, who was sold by D. and S. Thoroughbreds as agent for Mark Dickerson. The gelding took the $7,500 maiden claiming race, a six-furlong event, by nearly seven lengths.

   Seven-year-old multiple stakes winner Thirteengoldhearts, a gelded son of Liberty Gold-Macarena Girl, by Cryptoclearance, bred by Robert and Linda Weeks, took a mile and seventy yard handicap race at Blackfoot by 12 1/4 lengths on September 7 to improve his record to 9-15-9 from 47 starts. He has earned $58,375.

   Three-year-old Pebble Beach Baby, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Rock Hard Ten who began her race career for her breeder Jill Heerensperger at Emerald Downs last year, won a $32,000 claiming race at Barretts Race Meet at Fairplex on September 11 to record her second win. The $45,103 earner is one of seven winners, including three stakes horses, out of Washington-bred winner and 1997 WTBOA sales yearling Sarna, by Son of Briartic. 

The Prodigious Fund Offers Thoroughbred Showcase 2013

   On August 31, The Prodigious Fund held their first Thoroughbred Showcase to great success, finding new homes for 11 horses. The venue was held at the WTBOA Sales Pavilion located at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington.

   Nearly 40 Thoroughbreds, many of them retired racehorses, were offered for inspection and purchase, including horses from three-to-12 years old which were suitable for eventing, hunter/jumper, dressage, trail, polo, light riding, companion horse, barrel racing and 4-H.

   Around 100 interested horsemen gathered to inspect the horses which were located for the day in Emerald's temporary barns.

  Joe LaDuca read the catalog pages while Liana Antanovic provided expert commentary on each horse as it was presented by ring handler Kari Toye, who walked and jogged each horse.

 Contact information on each horse was available for prospective buyers to connect with the horse's owner and trainer to facilitate a private sale and Emerald Downs veterinarians were on hand to take x-rays or perform pre-purchase soundness exams.

   "Thoroughbreds are incredible athletes on and off the track," said Emerald Downs Director of Marketing Sophia McKee. "If you've worked with them before, you surely are a fan of their work ethic and intelligence. They enjoy doing so many different things."

   The following horses, listed by Hip #, name/selling contact and price, were sold: Hip 263 - Forest Bunny/Darrin Paul - $1,500, Hip 266 -Wingman Willy/Dave Bennett - $1,800, Hip 277 - Gilmore/Danny Brock - $1,500, and Hip 281 - Because of You/Monique Snowden - $2,000, Hip 251 - Roaring Hot/Margo Lloyd - $2,500, Hip 257 - Be There Joe/Howard Belvoir - $1,200, Hip 259 - Kant Catch Jayden/Norma Burnam - $300, Hip 261 - Supersymmetry/Theresa Hodge - $2,500, Hip 264 - Parko/Kara Toye - $3,500, Hip 265 - He's Tickled/Margo Lloyd - $2,500, and Hip 285 - Enumclaw Bandit - free, went home with Be There Joe.
   There was also a great deal of interest in Hip 283 Marenmag/Kim Wales and Hip 284 First Last Chance/John Holmes.

 "The feedback was fantastic," commented McKee after the showcase. "Buyers are going to trainers' barns looking for other available horses and the polo people are also scouting additional horses."

   Trot videos are available of the following horses at https://www.facebook.com/ProdigiousFund. The times in video are approximate. See catalog link for contact information for each horse:
Hip 253 Maniacal Passion :08; Hip 254 Tempestinateapot :50; Hip 255 Northern Star 1:28; Hip 260 Delcine 2:10; Hip 262 Prince Giddyup 2:52; Hip 267 Ima Royal Prince 3:30; Hip 269 Edgewick Road 3:57; Hip 271 Hot N Sauci 4:36; Hip 272 Winorbegone 5:13; Hip 273 Packy 5:50; Hip 274 Libby Green 6:33; Hip 276 No More Questions 7:10; Hip 278 Shenandoah River 7:43; Hip 279 Delinastar 8:28; Hip 280 Matilda G 9:02; Hip 282 G Ten 9:40; Hip 283 Marenmag 10:10; and Hip284 First Last Chance 10:51.

  The Prodigious Fund's mission is to recognize and support positive efforts made within the Thoroughbred aftercare community for the re-homing, promotion and care of retired racehorses. The Fund is supported though industry contributions, Emerald Downs per starter contributions and matching funds from Emerald Downs.

   For photos and more about the event go to Monica Bretherton's "Twelve Steps for Thoroughbred Addicts" blog at http://blog.seattlepi.com/horsebytes/2013/09/06/twelve-steps-for-thoroughbred-addicts/.

Other Emerald Notes

    Two Quarter horse stakes were run on September 1. Gerardo Prado's Vodka With Ice, an eight-year-old Texas-bred gelding by Stoli, won the $70,200 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge, a 440-yard event, by three-quarters of a length over Adrian Quinones' Showbound Superchick, who was a head the better of Silvestre Delapaz Sanguino's J Mancuso in the field of ten. Vodka With Ice, ridden by Cesar DeAlba and trained by Pablo Rabasa Jr. set a new track record of :21.667, bettering race favorite's Chick Special Angel's (who finished fourth) 2012 record of :21.728.

  The $21,150 Zoetis Emerald Starter Allowance Challenge, at 350 yards, was won by odds-on betting choice Whos On First Aj, a nine-year-old California-bred son of Separtist-Marys Request, by Arrows Request, who races for Craig Giles Racing LLC and is trained by Nick Cronquist. Ridden by Joe Crispin, Whos On First Aj defeated San Gregorio Racing Stable Inc.'s Secret Inferno by a half-length. Jose Ariel Lozano's Unique Sneak finished third in the field of nine. Fianl race time was :17.850.

    KLG Racing's Olympic Lights, a nine-year-old son of Tropic Lightning-Maria Michele, by Olympic Native, became the number two all-time winner at Emerald Downs after the Blaine Wright trainee won the fifth race on September 6. Stakes-placed at Portland Meadows, Olympic Lights has now won 17 races at the Auburn track, four wins behind leader West Seattle Boy in the wins standing. Bred in Washington by David and Anne Perrigoue, the bulk of Olympic Light' $143,531 has been earned at Emerald.

    Three-time Emerald Downs stakes winner Carrabelle Harbor, a five-year-old Oregon-bred daughter of Harbor the Gold who raced for Bar C Racing Stables and Desert Rose Racing LLC, has been retired from racing with earnings of $146,237. According to Pam Christopherson, who with her husband Neal bred the five-race winner at their Bar C Racing Stables Inc. in Hermiston, Oregon, she will be bred next spring to their stallion Sixthirteen.

Washington-breds of the Week at Emerald Downs

   Unraced at two, Remmah Racing Inc.'s Southern Solution won his fourth race of the meet on August 30 and was named top Washington-bred for week 19. The three-year-old gelded son of Southern Africa-Kimora, by Navarone, made a winning debut in the first race of the 2013 Emerald season, taking a five-furlong $20,000 maiden claiming race by a neck. He next won a 5 1 /2-furlong $15,000 claimer, also by a neck, which was followed by a three-length win in a six-panel $15,000 claimer. The most recent win for the Blaine Wright trainee came in another $15,000 claiming race, but at a mile, which he and rider Juan Gutierrez took by nearly four lengths. The 2011 WTBOA sale graduate, who was bred in partnership by John Park and Candi Tollett, has earned $27,554 in six starts.

    He's Not Bluffin, who earned his first stakes victory in the Jim Beam Stakes on the September 8 Washington Cup XI card, was named Washington-bred of week 20. It was the third consecutive victory for the three-year-old son of Raise the Bluff-Winning View, by Naevus, who took the mile stakes by three-quarters of a length, giving Southern California-based rider Chantal Sutherland-Kruse her first win at Emerald Downs. He's Not Bluffin, who has won half of his eight starts and earned $64,056, races for Sauci Belvoir and is trained by her father-in-law Howard Belvoir. 2011 WTBOA Sales graduate He's Not Bluffin had been claimed by Sauci's husband, trainer Vann Belvoir for $25,000 on August 17. Bred by Nina and Ron Hagen at their El Dorado Farms LLC in Enumclaw, He's Not Bluffin is a half-brother to $91,460 stakes winner six Diamond View and six other winners.

Summer Hit Wins Harry F. Brubaker Stakes

   Grade 3 stakes winner Summer Hit added a 1 1/4-length score in the $110,400 Henry F. Brubaker Stakes to his credits on August 31. He finished the mile Del Mar stakes in a quick 1:3.99.

   Though not a Washington-bred, multiple stakes winner and California-bred Summer Hit has multiple ties to our state, as his breeders, Ken and Jan Heidt, are from Arlington; he is a half-brother to Washington-bred stakes winner and 2006 Emerald Downs champion sprinter Starbird Road; his dam is a Washington-bred winning full sister to stakes winner Miatough, both sired by Washington-bred stakes winner Tough Knight; and Mia F Eighteen is now owned by Terry and Marylou Griffin and their Griffin Place LLC, who sold her yearling colt by Harbor the Gold for $30,000 to California trainer Jeff Bonde at the August WTBOA sale.

   Summer Hit, a four-year-old gelded son of Bertrando, has a record of 8-2-2 from 13 starts and earnings of $357,255.

Labor Day Racing at Portland Meadows

   Portland Meadows Monday, 11-race Labor Day card began with three Quarter Horse races and was followed by five $15,000 stakes and the $35,000 Portland Meadows Mile Handicap.

   Kirk Sutherland's Crew Leader drew off by seven lengths to take the big race of the day in 1:37.91. It was the seventh win for the six-year-old gelding by Pulpit-Triple Act, by Theatrical (Ire), who was ridden by Deborah Hoonan and trained by Theodore J. Hurt. With his $21,285 winner's share the Darley-bred runner has earned $195,642. J C Racing Stable's Why Not Be Perfect (Whywhywhy-Perfect Time), last seen in the Longacres Mile, finished second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of Nancy and Jim Garrett's Boise ship-in Memo to Mya (Cobra King-Memo Boy) in the field of seven.

   First-time starters won both of the two-year-old stakes. The Catalina Harbor Stakes for fillies was taken by 4 1/2 lengths by Bob and Pat Cosgrove's Jet Set Kitten, an Oregon-bred daughter of Jet West-Karlee's Kitten, by Pioneering, bred by Patrick Cosgrove, trained by Jonathan Nance and ridden by Karlo Lopez. Michael Pollowitz and Jeffrey M. Wilson's Sudden Adele (Harbor the Gold-Sudden) ran second with Margaret Root's Truly a Gem (Grindstone-Truly a Cat) finishing third in the 5 1/2-furlong stakes.

   Art McFadden's Kentucky-bred Morning Line Wiz (Henny Hughes-Morner, by Broken Vow) was impressive in his debut, drawing off to take the Ex Mountain Cop Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths with Jorge Rosales in the saddle. The Jim Fergason trainee won the race in 1:06.72, only three-hundredths of a second faster than Jet Set Kitten's tally. Elite Racing's Leo's Lookin (Leonnatus Anteas-Take a Look) finished 4 1/2 lengths the better of Cheryl and Kim Donovan Weaver's third place finisher Oregon Stater (Officer-Feng Shui) in the field of six.

   Robert Clary's homebred Jack the Pirate (Harbor the Gold-Tres Netta Joe, by Tres Hombres), ridden by David Lopez, scored a 3 1/4 length tally in the six-furlong Tom Two Stakes for sophomore male runners. It marked the fourth win in eight starts for the Oregon-bred gelding who is trained by Blaine Wright. Elite Racing's Instinctively Bold (Kafwain-Radcliffe Yard), who had shipped in from Arapahoe Park, finished second, four lengths the better of Bret Christopherson's Captainnotsosober (Harbor the Gold-Berry Swiss) in the field of six. Final race time was 1:12.13.

  Jeri Johnson and trainer Jim Fergason's Our Little Hen (Henny Hughes-Muklah [Ire], by Singspiel), who came into the race off an August 16 win at Emerald Downs, defeated a field of eight other three-year-old fillies by 5 1/4 lengths in the six-panel Jimbo's Fire Ant Stakes. It marked the fourth win in nine starts for the Kentucky-bred miss. David Israel's Inquiry Miss (Lawyer Ron-One Stormy Mama) ran second, defeating Lawrence R. O'Brine and Marvin Pietila's Society Girl (Soft Gold [Brz]-Crimson Date) by a head for the second spot. Ridden by Jorge Rosales, Our Little Hen won the race in 1:12.31.

   Seven older fillies and mares contested the mile Silver Patrona Stakes. Carol Dronen, Abella Racing and Blaine Hecht's Lady Aragorn (Aragorn [Ire]-Young Royalty, by Royal Academy), partnered by Deborah Hoonan, drove from back of the pack to win the race in 1:42.21. Finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind her in second was Katie Peery's Tweetie Pie (Yes It's True-New Year Jessica), who had shipped up from Golden Gate Fields. William Jensen's Miss Madavor (Olmodavor-Racey Lady) finished a neck behind her in third place. Lady Aragorn, who has now won five races, is trained by Sam Dronen.

Dedomenico Buys $1-million Yearling at Keeneland

   Mike Puhich, director of operations for Dr. Mark Dedomenico's Pegasus Thoroughbred Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond, went to $1-million to sign for a Smart Strike colt out of Canadian champion Serenading, by A.P. Indy. During the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on September 10. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, the colt was the co-second highest priced yearling of the session. The colt will race for Dedomenico and partners and be trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

   "He's just a really classy, gorgeous horse," commented Puhich. "He's by a top stallion. We fell in love with him and decided to try to get him. Jerry will probably stay in for a piece, and that's the type of horse he wants."

   On Monday, Puhich signed as agent for a Harlan's Holiday filly out of Grade 3 winner Keys to the Heart for $30,000 and a Bernardini-sired half-brother to Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Real Cozzy, whose dam is a half-sister to champion and classic winner Real Quiet, for $300,000.

   In the sale's third session Puhich signed for a Divine Park colt out of a stakes-winning and stakes-producing daughter of End Sweep for $115,000.

   The sale, which cataloged 3,908 yearlings, is scheduled to go through September 21.

2013 CTHS British Columbia Sale

   The 2013 CTHS (BC division) Yearling and Mixed Sale was held on September 9, 2013, at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. Of the 117 yearlings and three broodmares cataloged, the sale had 11 outs (two of which were mares) and 21 RNAs or no sales. Of the remaining 88 hips, which brought a $1,314,700 gross, the sale topper was a colt by Second in Command out of Mascaretta from the White Horse Stables consignment. Glen Todd placed the $102,000 final bid for the half-brother to BC champion two-year-old colt Ookashada.

   Nineteen other yearlings brought a bid of $20,000 or more, including a $57,000 filly by Cause to Believe-Never Assume, a $49,000 filly by Munnings-Winning Toast, $46,000 filly by Stormin Fever-Flom's Tizzy, $43,000 colt by Old Fashioned-Fable Affair, a $43,000 colt by Stephen Got Even-View Hallo, a $40,000 filly by Bold Executive-Future Equity and a $40,000 colt by Stormy Victory-Lazy Days.

  The 87 yearlings averaged $15,100 and the one broodmare brought $1,000. In 2012, 84 horses were sold for $1,341,000 and a $15,595 average, versus 2011 when 80 sold for $1,080,400 and a $15,505 average.

Other News

   Seven-year-old turf sprint specialist Ben's Cat finished third in the $350,000 Turf Monster Handicap (G3) held at Parx Racing on September 2, beaten less than a length by winner Stormofthecentury. With his $38,500 share of the purse the gelded son of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat who races for owner-breeder-trainer King Leatherbury's The Jim Stable, has earned $278,350 of his $1,635,640 total this year.

   On August 31, Mark Dedomenico LLC, Allen J. Aldrich, Lisa Hernandez and Stuart Downey's, She's a Tiger, a three-quarter sister to Grade 1 millionaire Smiling Tiger, won $300,750 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes by a half-length and improved her record to 3-1-0 from four starts and earnings to $315,650. The Jeff Bonde trained She's a Tiger, a $150,000 Keeneland September yearling, was bred by Dr. Rodney Orr out of his stakes-winning Cahill Road mare Shandra Smiles.

   On the same card as the Debutante, Dedomenico, Hollendorfer, Jason Litt and Alex Solis II's Scherzinger, a three-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tiz Wonderful-Dancinandsingin, by A. P. Indy, won a six-furlong maiden special weight race by 1 1/2 lengths.

    Full siblings Ocean Roll and Harley Hart, both offspring of Behrens, won at Blackfoot on September 2. Three-year-old Idaho-bred gelding Ocean Roll won the $3,100 Award Sponsored by C-A-L Ranch Stores Stakes and four-year-old California-bred filly Harley Hart won a six-panel handicap. Both are out of the multiple stakes-winning Peterhof mare Baby Goofhauf.

    Among the allowance winners at the 2013 Harney County Fair in Burns, Oregon, were Washington-bred Stealth Attack, a multiple stakes-winning ten-year-old son of Flying With Eagles-Sarna, by Son of Briartic, who recorded a 3 1/2-length victory in a nine-furlong event to record his 18th win and push his earnings to $165,896 for the David and Jill Heerensperger-bred gelding who races for Jim Gilmour and is trained by Debbie Van Horne; and Glory B Stables LLC's stakes-placed Chocolate Starr, a nine-year-old daughter of The Deputy (Ire)-Savanaha, by Moment of Hope, bred by Brad Shawhan and trained by Mary Boyle, who won a five-furlong race in gate-to-wire fashion by 4 1/4 lengths to record her 15th win.

    Andrews Courage, the eight-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Jump Start who won the $5,750 Von Adams Memorial at Black Foot on September 7, is out of the Cahill Road mare Sister Hazel. Finishing third in the six furlong race was seven-year-old County Farmer, a son of Matricule-Foxy Lite, by Country Lite, bred in Washington by Billie Klokstad and Ruth Walby.

    Dr. George Todaro and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's multiple stakes winner Zeewat won a six-panel allowance at Golden Gate Fields on September 1. The three-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Harlan's Holiday-Delia, by Distant View, has won five of his nine starts and earned $205,150. Todaro and Hollenorfer's two-year-old gelding Life Is a Joy, a California-bred son of Globalize-Tadita, by Indian Charlie, is now two-for-two after he took an allowance/$50,000 optional claiming race at Golden Gate on September 8.

   2012 champion two-year-old filly Beholder, whose third dam is former Washington broodmare One Last Bird, added a nearly three-length victory in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar to her tallies on September 1. The daughter of Henny Hughes out of stakes winner Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek, finished the mile test in 1:36 1/5. In ten starts, she has a record of 6-3-0 and earnings of $1,825,000.

   Remmah Racing Inc.'s homebred two-year-old Lexie Arleen won her initial start on September 7 at Golden Gate in a $20,000 maiden claiming race. The California-bred filly is a daughter of El Dorado Farms LLC's Raise the Bluff out of Washington-bred winner Lucky Lexie, by Kentucky Lucky.

    Sauci Belvoir and Vicky Dimitri's two-year-old Wildcat Party, a Kentucky-bred son of Wildcat Heir-Red Hot Renee, by Roar, trained by Sauci's husband Vann Belvoir, won his first outing, a $32,000 maiden claimer run at the newly renamed Barretts Race Meet at Fairplex on September 7.

   Silverette, the four-year-old daughter of Street Sense-Holy Lightning, by Holy Bull, who won the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap at Parx Racing on September 2, was bred in Kentucky by Ty and Doug Scheumann's Grousemont Farm. A half-sister to graded stakes winner and $1.1-million earner Going Ballistic, multiple stakes winner Silverette - a $290,000 2010 Keeneland September yearling - has a record of 6-4-0 from 11starts and has earned $390,802.

   Willcox Inn, who races for Lael Stables and All In Stable - which includes Jack and Theresa Hodge among its members - had his fourth stakes win in the $150,000 Washington Park Handicap (G3) held at Arlington Park on August 31. Grade 1-placed at two, the five-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday-De Aar, by Gone West, has a record of 6-4-3 from 20 starts and earnings of $939,543.

   Five-year-old Pride of Paris, the first foal out of Anotherbusride (a full sister to 2001 Washington horse of the year and Grade 1 winner Tali'sluckybusride), by Delineator, won a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Finger Lakes on September 6. It was the seventh win for the New York-bred daughter of Sharp Humor and pushed her earnings to $86,440.

   Two-year-old Lexie Lou, who was awarded first place upon the disqualification of On Rainbow Bridge in the $190,939 Muskoka Stakes held at Woodbine on August 28, is the first runner and winner from the first five named foals out of $143,695 winner Oneexecssivenite, a daughter of 1994 and 1995 Washington champion and graded stakes winner Favored One, by Son of Briartic. Ontario-bred Lexie Lou, a daughter of Sligo Bay (Ire), has won half of her four starts and earned $151,096. The filly was ridden to her two-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes by three-time leading Longacres rider Gary Boulanger.

    Multiple stakes winner Madeira Park, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Langfuhr, won the $48,015 Delta Colleen Handicap at Hastings Racecourse on September 8 to increase her earnings to $173,514. Madeira Park, her stakes-winning full sister Langara Lass and stakes-winning half-brother Overact are all out of the stakes-winning Demons Begone mare Capilano.

   "The Breeders' Cup Forum: Spot On" in the September 13, 2013, issue of the Paulick Report featured a story on Onalaska, Washington, resident and major Thoroughbred sales bidspotter Pete McCormick, who as part of the Caldwell auction team has taken many bids at WTBOA sales. For the complete story go to:

http://www.paulickreport.com/features/the-breeders-cup-forum/the-breeders-cup-forum-spot-on/.

In Memoriam

 William "Bill" B. Bomar

    Bill Bomar, 94, passed away in Dupont, Washington, on August 14, 2013. He was born on September 22, 1918.

    A longtime horse owner and breeder with his wife Jane, the Bomars first got interested in horse racing in the mid-1960s when Bill retired from the military after an illustrious career as an Air Force officer. Bill was a fighter pilot in World War II and was a POW for a year in a German prison camp. The couple's silks, white, orange and brown stripes on sleeves with an airplane, reflected Bill's vocation.

  The Bomars initially became acquainted with longtime horse owners Roy Johnson and Jerry Woods at Longacres, who introduced them to horse ownership.

    Since Emerald Downs opened in 1996, the Bomars rarely missed a day of live racing and through the years served as ambassadors to the sport by bringing new people to the track. In addition, throughout the years when they would see new faces in the box seats, they would be the first to introduce themselves and welcome fans and new owners.

    Multiple stakes winning owners, the Bomars have won 60 races since 2000, including three this year with Seattle Game, whose most recent win came September 9, three weeks after Bill's passing. Trainer Vince Gibson, and his wife Pam, became close friends with the Bomars, as well as conditioning their racing stock.

   The Bomars also attended Portland Meadows each year, along with their horses, once the meet closed at Emerald Downs.

 The couple, who were married for over 70 years, also bred 18-race winner Box Top.

   In 1996, the Bomars were named 2007 Washington HBPA owners of the year.

Dr. Don "Doc" Morton Hopwood

   Dr. Don "Doc" Morton Hopwood, 71, died on July 27, 2013, at his home in Glendive, Montana, following an extended illness.

    Don was born on October 1, 1941, in Billings, Montana, the son of Wilfred and Phyllis (Wright) Hopwood. He was raised and educated in the Lockwood area where he received his early education before graduating from Billings Senior High School in 1959. He attended the University of Washington where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and a Doctor of Medicine.

    Don married Jan (Johnson) and they had three children.

    Following his graduation from college, Don entered the United States Navy where he served as a family practitioner with the rank of Lt. Commander. During this time he worked in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area for two years and also in the Seattle area for two years.

    Following his discharge from military service, Don moved to Deer Park and started an HMO in Spokane. In 1989, Don moved to Phoenix where he had a private practice for ten years while also serving as an emergency physician on the Arizona/Mexico border.

   In 2004, Don returned to Montana where he was a hospital physician for Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth. He moved to Glendive in 2007 where he continued working in medicine until 2012 when health issues forced him to retire. Don was known for making house calls to his patients in Glendive who were in hospice care.

   Don married Mona Dale (Anderson) Humphrey on September 26, 2009.

   Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, skiing and horse racing. With trainer Tim McCanna he raced many horses at Emerald Downs and in California. Among his recent runners was Showme Yourfriends, who won four races since they claimed him, including an allowance/$40,000 optional claiming race at Santa Anita this past April. In July, the Hopwood/McCanna two-year-old Corduroy finished third in her first start to unbeaten stakes winner Chu and You. Another runner Don raced in partnership, with longtime friends Dr. Duane and Sue Hopp, was Southern California winner Ivanho. He also had horses in Arizona. Don's enthusiasm for horse racing continued until the time of his passing.

    Don was also a certified sommelier and a wonderful story and joke teller.

    He is survived by his wife, Mona, of Glendive; three children, Wilfred Alexander (Amy) Hopwood, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Amy Niccola Hopwood, of Spokane, and Don M. Hopwood Jr., of Seattle; two step-children, Brian Humphrey, of Seattle and Brandy Humphrey, of Norfolk, Virginia; two grandchildren, Stephen and Simon Hopwood; niece, Brooklynn Sacherer; two sisters, Judy (Earl) Hawkins and Jeanne (Dan) Garrison, both of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Maureen Elizabeth McDonald

  Maureen Elizabeth McDonald, 65, owner of Dupuis Restaurant, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at her home in Port Angeles.
   Born February 26, 1947, in Stockton, California, Maureen was the eldest daughter of Mary Lee (Johner) McDonald and Glenn Shawler "Chub" McDonald.
   Maureen grew up in Port Angeles, where she attended Queen of Angels Catholic School and graduated from Port Angeles High School. She later attended Griffith Business College in Seattle.
   Maureen, most famously known for her striking red hair and colorful personality, had a kind and giving heart, helping many less fortunate and donating to many charities - especially those related to Native American children.
   She had a passion for Thoroughbred horse racing that began in childhood working alongside her horse trainer father.
   She was an amateur geologist, a collector of antiques and oddities, an avid gardener producing flowers for Dupuis and a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, with a voracious appetite for current affairs.
   Maureen was a hard worker, owning and operating Evergreen Bookkeeping, as well as working for the Clallam County treasurer's office, Seafirst Bank and Grays Harbor Log Scaling prior to opening Dupuis Restaurant.
   She is survived by her daughter, Angeline Mangano Little, of Port Angeles; her brothers, Frank McDonald, of Marysville, and Owen "Hoss" McDonald, of Port Angeles; sister, Molly (McDonald) Cox, of Bothell.
   In lieu of flowers, Maureen requested that donations be made to The Prodigious Fund.

   Among those others lost to the industry this summer is John "Jack" J. Keough, 85, who had a passion for developing betting patterns at Longacres.