2002 Cal-bred News

Matron to Be Super

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2002) – Super High has raised her game to a higher level on the turf, but she will be returned to the dirt for California Cup XIII and could be favored in the $150,000 Matron.

The daughter of High Brite, out of California Broodmare of the Year Image of Super, was bred by owner Harris Farms. She has five wins in 11 starts, but is 3-of-5 on the turf. All three of her stakes wins have come on the grass.

But the $750,000 Sunshine Millions race for fillies and mares in January will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt at Santa Anita, the same conditions as the Matron. The lure of that Sunshine Millions purse has added to the attractiveness of the Cal Cup Matron, which had 38 nominations.

Bear Fan, the unbeaten daughter of Pine Bluff bred by trainer, breeder and co-owner Wesley Ward, also could opt for the Matron for the same reason as Super High. But Bear Fan hasn’t run since July and Ward has been evasive about his plans for Bear Fan, who also was nominated to the Distaff and Sprint.

Besides Super High and Bear Fan, other stakes winners who could appear in the Matron include Ladylore, Top Bracket and regular nominee Castling.

Ladylore is a daughter of Video Ranger, out of the Tri Jet mare Romantic Jet, and was bred by Myung Kwon Cho. After being claimed for $32,000, she won the $200,000 Melair Stakes.

Castling is a daughter of Pirate’s Bounty, out of the Executioner mare Crystal M., and was bred by trainer and co-owner William Currin. She won the Valkyr Handicap at one mile on the turf at Hollywood Park in July.

Top Bracket is a daughter of Bertrando, out of the In Reality mare Free The Princess, and was bred by Marshall Naify Trust. She has won stakes at Turf Paradise and, more recently, Emerald Downs, while earning nearly $150,000.

The Matron received five regular nominations: Castling, Cee’s Elegance (bred by Cecilia Straub-Rubens), Chic Domestique (bred by Robert H. Walter Family Trust), Jenna’s Joy (bred by Haagsma, Haagsma and Tillema) and Midnite Meeting (bred by Valerie Naify).