March  2000

Southern Cal Racing
by MICHAEL COMPTON

It has been a busy month for California-breds in Southern California. While the area was pelted with rain for much of the month, Cal-breds continued to distinguish themselves from the competition on the racetrack.

On February 6, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association crowned its champions during afternoon ceremonies held at Santa Anita. Shortly after CTBA officials announced that Jeffrey Sengara's sensational Budroyale was selected as California's Horse of the Year, the game son of Cee's Tizzy promptly captured the San Antonio Handicap.

"It was a fitting afternoon for California's Horse of the Year," said CTBA General Manager Doug Burge. "It was a tremendous day for our members and all the champions we paid tribute to during the award presentations."

It didn't take long for Budroyale to prove why he was voted the state's best. With a bold move on the far turn, Budroyale compfortably dispatched the compact field of five, holding at bay the late rally of Cat Thief.

"Usually I would have to get after him around the turn to pick it up and go after them, but today he cruised up to them so easily at the quarter pole that I couldn't believe it," said regular rider Garrett Gomez. "I didn't want to hit the front too soon, but this horse is so tough to get by once he's in front, so I just let him keep on truckin'."

It appears a rematch with Cat Thief is likely in the March 4 Santa Anita Handicap, where General Challenge is also likely to join the fray.

Speaking of General Challenge, honored as last year's champion 3-year-old male, the towering son of General Meeting was ultra impressive in winning the $500,000 Strub Stakes the day before the San Antonio. Trailing the field early, General Challenge and new jockey Corey Nakatani, made a sweeping move around the far turn and simply engulfed the field. He drew out to win by 9 1/2-lengths.

"I just let him settle early," Nakatani said. "At the four and a half (furlong mark), I started to get him gathered up and go on with him. He ran right through the dirt and did everything right. It was pretty awesome. He's really strong. What a special horse he is."

Daughters of River Edge Farm stallion Bertrando took center stage in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes last month. Scholars Studio edged 4-5 favorite Smooth Player at the wire of the 1 1/8-mile affair.

"She ran a tremendous race," said Nakatani of Scholars Studio. "She made the lead and then she settled for me."
Trainer Dan Hendricks, who conditions Smooth Player, was not disheartened with the defeat.

"She ran hard and she ran well," he said. "That other filly got the jump on us and kept going. What can I say-they're both really good Bertrandos."

Hard-knocking Cal-bred Show Me the Stage began 2000 in much the same fashion she ended last season-winning. The daughter of Slew the Surgeon led the Grade 3 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita nearly wire to wire for her second consecutive stakes victory over the Arcadia oval.

"She won this race in the second 100 yards," said her jockey Kent Desormeaux. "She got out to the front and I was just holding onto my knot in the reins. Then I chirped just once when (Theresa's Tizzy) came up to her and she absolutely took off and was gone. She has scintillating speed. This filly is a mud freak, too. She hears her feet rattle over the track and it always feels like there's somebody coming after her. She's very nice."

Trainer Eric Guillot was pleased to see the wet track surface for the Las Flores, as rains drenched the track leading up to the race.

"She doesn't need a muddy track to win, but it helps," he said. "She's five-for five on a wet track by my count. Now she's got 11 stakes wins. She's explosive. She took a breather around the turn, and when he asked her, she exploded. I think that breaks a lot of the others' hearts when they start running you down and then you take off again so quickly."

Also getting back on the winning track last month was Cover Gal. She made short work of the Boo La Boo Stakes field Feb. 19. The speedy daughter of Falstaff defeated Quennie Belle by three lengths. Fire Sale Queen finished third.

"Her confidence level was tremendous," said Desormeuax. "She worked off the fingertips instead of being a little fractious and in a bit of a hurry. "I've known that she was fast from her first start. She left me in the gate that day. She leaves there like a quarter horse."

Here's to You, owned by Ross Gilbert, won the Pro or Con Handicap to round out the month's Cal-bred action.

The 3-year-old filly is trained by Patrick Gallagher and was ridden by Chris McCarron.

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