January 2000

Going for the Green
Though California-breds have scored most of their major victories on the dirt, a number of Cal-breds have starred when switched to turf racing.

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the Thoroughbred of California in 1991. As we look back at great Cal-breds of the century, we felt it appropriate to include a glance at the state's Cal-bred turf stars as well-with an update through 1999.
by MICHAEL COMPTON

In referring to class in a racehorse, Hall of Fame trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons once said, "It's what you can't see that makes the difference." The hidden quality Fitzsimmons spoke of was heart.

While the presence of heart is instrumental in any athlete's career, racing surfaces also play a major role in determining a horse's success at the racetrack. Through the years, many California-bred runners have demonstrated a distinct fondness for the turf. Their appreciation of the rolling green has enabled Cal-breds to achieve a certain degree of greatness among their peers.

The love affair between the Cal-bred and the turf dates back to the 1950s and the inception of turf racing in the United States. Although grass racing, dominant in Europe, was first met with skepticism in this country, it eventually worked its way into the hearts of American horsemen.

Initially, horsemen feared that racing on grass would benefit only foreign-bred horses and hinder the performance of their own runners, more accustomed to racing on the main track. But grass racing proved popular with fans. Handle at tracks increased when turf races were carded, and the new surface also established the groundwork for international competition.

Foreign horses did win many of the early turf races in this country, but it did not take long for Cal-breds to distinguish themselves on the kinder footing. Among the first was T.V. Lark, one of the best runners ever to set foot on a racecourse.

Chase McCoy of Bradbury, Calif., purchased T.V. Lark for $10,000 at the 1958 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Del Mar sale. In 1961, McCoy sold T.V. Lark as a three-year-old stakes winner for close to $600,000 to Kentucky horseman Preston Madden, owner of Hamburg Place in Kentucky.

By 1961, turf races were still relatively rare, and the few that did exist attracted largely international fields. T.V. Lark welcomed the competition from abroad, however, and it seemed to bring out his best. As if facing the great Kelso in the 1961 Washington D.C. International was not enough, the Cal-bred also had to contend with a global cast that included France's Misti and Venezuela's Prenupcial.

While the 31,300 people in attendance at Laurel Racecourse in Maryland that day turned out for an international display of talent, T.V. Lark won the race for the home folks and shifted the spotlight to California. In a dramatic stretch duel, he bested five-time Horse of the Year Kelso and jockey Eddie Arcaro by three-quarters of a length. At the finish, the two were 12 lengths clear of third-place Prenupcial. T.V. Lark ran the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:26 1/5, smashing Bald Eagle's course record of 2:28, set in 1959.

"We thought he would run well in the race," recalled Madden. "But I can't say that I knew he would beat Kelso. It was a super race. Two great horses knocked heads all the way around, and neither one of them gave in."

By the time of the International, course records were nothing new to the son of Indian Hemp-Miss Larksfly, by Heelfly, who was bred by Dr. Walter Lucas of Arcadia, Calif. Just prior to his stirring victory over Kelso, T.V. Lark, trained for much of his career by Paul Parker, beat Nasomo by a nose to capture the Knickerbocker Handicap on the turf at Aqueduct in New York. Ridden in the Knickerbocker by regular jockey John Longden, T.V. Lark set a new course and American record for 1 5/8 miles, completing the distance in 2:40. At season's end, T.V. Lark was named the nation's top grass horse.

"T.V. Lark was a natural athlete," said Madden, "the most intelligent horse I have ever been around. He loved to hear his feet rattle on the turf when he was running. That's one of the reasons why we never sent him to Europe, because he needed the firm courses here. He didn't care for the soft going. It's too bad there was not more turf racing in those days. We had to ship him around a lot to find the grass races."

Crystal Water, a descendant of T.V. Lark, more than lived up to his family name. Bred in California by Connie Ring, Crystal Water was California Horse of the Year in 1976 and 1977. It was at four in 1977 that Crystal Water first displayed the same affinity for the turf that T.V Lark so often had.

One of the most thrilling finishes of Crystal Water's career came in that year's Oak Tree Invitational Stakes over Santa Anita's Camino Real turf course. Handled by jockey Bill Shoemaker, who was filling in for the suspended Laffit Pincay Jr., Crystal Water was always on or near the lead in the 1 1/2mile turf marathon. Under strong urging from Shoemaker in the stretch, Crystal Water beat a fast-closing Vigors to the wire by a neck, stopping the clock in 2:26 1/5.

"He was a nice horse," said Shoemaker. "At that point in his career, nobody really knew whether or not he would like the turf. But he sure ran a big race in the Invitational."

The Camino Real turf course was home to some of Quicken Tree's best races as well. Bred by Louis R. Rowan, Quicken Tree gave new meaning to the term "crowd pleaser." The durable chestnut gelding acquired a large following thanks in part to his breathtaking stretch runs. Often last to leave the starting gate, Quicken Tree on 15 occasions made it to the front for the finish.

The biggest victory of his brilliant career came in the 1970 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, when he dead-heated with Fiddle Isle for the win. Last in the field of 11 early, Quicken Tree was right where he wanted to be. Jockey Fernando Alvarez gave the Cal-bred plenty of time to settle into stride and gather himself for his customary rally. Fiddle Isle, with Shoemaker aboard, also lagged at the back of the pack early.

Rounding the far turn, Shoemaker gave Fiddle Isle his head, and the horse darted into contention. Quicken Tree followed in pursuit, right on his heels. They drove to the wire together, and at the finish Fiddle Isle and Quicken Tree were inseparable.

"I thought Fiddle Isle had the race won," admitted Shoemaker. "It looked like we were going to win. I was surprised that Quicken Tree caught us."

Santa Anita also played host to Brown Bess' scintillating victory in the 1989 Yellow Ribbon Stakes. The Cal-bred champion and Eclipse Award winner destroyed a representative field in the 13th running of the prestigious stakes, polishing off the 1 1/4 miles in 1:57 3/5, just one-fifth of a second off the world record. It was the fastest 1 1/4 miles ever recorded by a filly or mare.

Bred and owned by Suzanne Pashayan, Brown Bess in 1989 also captured the California Jockey Club, Ramona, Countess Fager, and Yerba Buena Handicaps, all on the turf. She was never beaten by a member of her sex all year, and at the end of the season, she was honored as the nation's best grass mare. A stifle injury ended her racing career at age eight and she retired, having earned more than $1 million.

Another champion from California's pastures that experienced success on the turf was 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps, bred and raced by Rex Ellsworth and trained by Meshach Tenney. Although the 1956 Horse of the Year scored all but one of his 14 stakes victories on the dirt, he was one of the first Cal-breds to win a major turf event.

In 1955, at age three, Swaps, toting top weight of 126 pounds, was odds-on to win the 1 3/16-mile American Derby over Washington Park's turf course in Illinois. Ridden by Shoemaker, his regular companion, Swaps took the lead soon after the start. He led throughout and defeated Traffic Judge by a length, touring the 1 3/16 miles in 1:54 3/5 to set a new course and American record.

"Turf races just never seemed to come up for Swaps," recalled Shoemaker. "I think he would have done well on the grass, but I don't think he would have liked a soft course. He needed his ground hard."

While Swaps forever etched the names of his connections in the history books, George A. Pope Jr. wrote the chapter on how to breed turf stakes winners. As owner of El Peco Ranch in Madera, Calif., Pope bred 28 added-money winners before his death in 1979. Included among his 28 stakes winners were a number of turf stars, including Wishing Well.

A daughter of Understanding-Mountain Flower, by Montparnasse II, Wishing Well raced for Pope until she was claimed in 1979 for $32,000 by Michael Lima. The following year at five, Wishing Well captured the Gamely Handicap on turf at Hollywood Park, turning back the always tough Country Queen by a length. Also finishing behind Wishing Well in the Gamely were noted turf runners Image of Reality and Sisterhood. Wishing Well won or placed in 13 stakes during her career and earned $381,825.

In the 1960s, Pope was known for sending many of his Cal-breds to Europe on a regular basis to compete against the world's best turf specialists. His courageous sporting moves, though somewhat daring, earned Cal-breds a new level of respect. The most notable of Pope's runners to cross the Atlantic was homebred Hill Rise. A son of Pope's resident stallion and first stakes winner Hillary, Hill Rise was out of California's 1969 Broodmare of the Year, Red Curtain.

At age four, Hill Rise showed Pope just how much he relished the turf by taking the 1965 Man o' War Stakes on the grass at Aqueduct by six lengths.

"His action was better on the grass," his trainer Bill Finnegan once said. "You take a horse with a short, choppy stride, and they won't go well. But a long-striding horse like Hill Rise will."

It was not long after the Man o' War that Pope sent Hill Rise to England so that the colt could compete exclusively on the turf. Hill Rise joined trainer Noel Murless' barn, and under his new conditoner's direction, he continued to excel.

When he captured the Queen Elizabeth II and Rous Memorial Stakes, Hill Rise became the first Cal-bred to win a major stakes in Britain since Rubio won the Grand National Steeplechase in 1908. Pope's homebred made a total of four starts in England, winning two. Hill Rise was not only respected abroad, but appreciated as well. He was honored as the best British miler of 1966.

Hill Rise has not been the only Cal-bred to prove his mettle overseas. Saracen Sword, Hill Run, and Cacoethes all won stakes in Europe.

Hill Run, a full brother to Hill Rise and another Pope homebred, began his career in France. He was victorious in England's Hyperion Stakes at two and captured France's Prix Jean Prat in his three-year-old debut in 1969.

At five, he returned to California and promptly defeated Court Road and Top Market in the Camino Real Handicap at Bay Meadows. Hill Run won seven of 20 starts and earned $655,957 during his career.

Bred and owned by George Getty II, Saracen Sword was foaled and raised at Three Rings Ranch near Beaumont, Calif. He was a tall, lanky horse, and Getty felt the slower European training methods would give the son of Khaled time to grow into his large frame. Saracen Sword was sent to trainer Vincent O'Brien in Ireland, where he joined a strong stable that included, among others, English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II.

Saracen Sword responded to the quality around him and became a stakes winner in Ireland at three. He collected his first added-money win in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh. Surprising the field, he defeated his more heralded stablemate Great Heron, a son of Sea-Bird, by a half-length.

Sent to France following his initial stakes win, Saracen Sword went off form. He later returned to the U.S. and concluded his career in his native state.

A Cal-bred turf champion, Cacoethes did not spend much time in his native state, racing on three different continents in 1990. The Cal-bred son of Alydar raced successfully in England, Japan and the U.S. Though his only win of the year came in the Turf Classic at Belmont Park in New York, the English-based runner also finished third, beaten just two heads, in the Japan Cup in Tokyo and ran second in the Hoover Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot in England. In 1989, Cacoethes won England's King Edward VII Stakes and Calor Derby Trial.

Prince Spellbound, bred and owned by Wyoming oilman William Pease, never had to leave California to make his impression on the turf world. Voted California's Horse of the Year in 1982, Prince Spellbound turned in a performance in that year's Hollywood Turf Cup that was fit for royalty.

In a sparkling effort, he pulled away from Majesty's Prince through the lane of the 1 3/8-mile event and posted an impressive three-length victory under jockey Marco Castaneda. The three-year-old son of California stallion Dimaggio covered the distance in 2:14.

"The Hollywood Turf Cup was a big race for us," remembered Pease, owner of Donerail Farm in Kentucky. "He beat a nice field that day. And I had a nice little wager on him, too, which made it even more exciting."

The following season at four, Prince Spellbound won another major turf fixture in the state for Pease, defeating Bel Bolide and Ask Me in the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar. Prince Spellbound also placed in the San Luis Rey, Californian, and San Fernando Stakes and the Hollywood Invitational and Hollywood Gold Cup Handicaps.

"I think a horse's action is very important in being able to handle the turf, and Prince Spellbound had quite a bit of ability to begin with. In fact, I think he was just as good on the dirt as he was on the turf. He really gave us some thrills."

Kjell Qvale's turf specialist Silveyville, bred by William and Moira Tanaka, supplied California racing fans with his own brand of excitement. In his remarkable eight years of racing, Silveyville made 56 starts, winning 19 and placing in 19 others. The Cal-bred millionaire loved the turf and had his best season in 1984 at age six.

Silveyville won that year's Carleton F. Burke, Rolling Green, On Trust, and Telly's Pop Invitational Handicaps. He finished second to John Henry in the grassy Golden Gate Handicap and was beaten less than a length by Bel Bolide in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park, also on the turf. The son of Petrone-Zurina, by Successor, always did his best running on the lead, and the 1984 Carleton F. Burke Handicap was no exception. Silveyville assumed command right at the break and never looked back. Jockey Chris McCarron kept Silveyville under a snug hold, and the horse waltzed down the backstretch uncontested. He opened up three lengths on his competition turning for home and cruised to a 2 1/2-length score, defeating Gordian and Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol. At the end of the season, Silveryville was honored as California's Horse of the Year and champion older male.

"Silveyville had the ability to adjust to anything," said Qvale. "That's the reason he lasted so long. He never lost his competitiveness. He loved to win. I used to like it when he would get caught and passed in the stretch and then come on again and win. He had tremendous courage."

Jockey Danny Winick, who partnered Silveyville to 13 wins, remembers the gifted Cal-bred fondly.

"He had a lot of class and intelligence," Winick said. "I remember the first time I worked him around the dogs on the turf course. He goofed off all the way around there. It felt as if he never applied himself. When I came back to the trainer's pony I told him I think we went in about 1:02. The trainer said we went in :57 4/5. I was 15 lengths wrong. He was such a nice horse and covered so much ground with his huge stride that he completely fooled me.

"Silveyville had the ability to cruise on an easy lead," he added. "But he cruised so fast that the other horses had to work hard just to keep up."

Unlike Silveyville, Golden Act, California's Horse of the Year in 1979, took his turf act on the road that year and proved that traveling was his forte. He made victorious stops in Illinois, New York, and Canada.

The rugged son of Gummo-Golden Shore, by Windy Sands, won three of five turf starts during that three-year-old campaign, bankrolling $273,343. He won the Secretariat Stakes on the turf at Arlington Park, captured the Lawrence Realization Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park, and topped off his banner year at Woodbine in Canada, winning the Canadian International Championship Stakes.

California has produced other notable turf stakes winners, such as Barberstown, winner of the 1985 Del Mar Handicap, Slew the Dragon and Saros Brig.

Once thought of as merely sprinters, Cal-breds through the years have proved to be versatile athletes, capable of much more than just fast clockings at six furlongs. They have displayed the stamina and class needed to be included among the best turf runners in the sport.
…And
The List Continues…

Since the accompanying article first appeared nearly a decade ago, numerous other Cal-breds have distinguished themselves on the turf.

The most dominating Cal-bred turf horse in recent years is the reigning turf champion Native Desert. Winner of the 1999 California Cup Mile, Native Desert is also the state's latest millionaire. He achieved millionaire status with an ultra-game runner-up performance in the Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park last month, nearly winning the $500,000 event after leading in deep stretch.

Miguel Rubio's son of Desert Classic has represented the state well in numerous graded turf events the last couple of years. The hard-knocking turf runner was bred by Fred Watarida.

Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan's homebred Gastown captured the Cal Cup Mile in 1998 and at season's end earned championship status as California's best.

Sons of Interco-Megan's Interco and Blaze O'Brien also relished the grass. Both were turf champions and both were multiple Cal Cup winners to boot.

Harris Farms homebreds were honored as champion grass horses in back-to-back years in '94 and '95. The two fillies won in both Southern and Northern California-demonstrating their class on both the main track as well as the turf.

Charm a Gendarme and Cat's Cradle also scored turf stakes victories in their careers. Both runners were also honored as state champions.

-Michael Compton