2003 Cal-bred News

Gold Rush IV
Saturday April 26, 2003

A Third for Lady Snerd

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 18, 2003) -- Three of Lady Snerd's kids are nominated to the California Gold Rush at Hollywood Park on Apr. 26.

Only one of them is likely to compete in the 10-race series. But Lady Snerd, a 13-year-old Chief's Crown mare out of Close In, by Fappiano, can take heart in the knowledge that the other two are doing well, while her youngest child is old enough to join the others on the racetrack.

Temecula Wild, her 2-year-old bay son by In Excess, broke his maiden in his second career start Wednesday, Apr. 16, a two-furlong dash at Santa Anita.

This victory came five days after Royal Bonus, Lady Snerd's 4-year-old son by Bonus Money, broke his maiden in a mile turf test in Arcadia for older horses.

The two victories meant that all five of Lady Snerd's offspring old enough to race have won.

"You can't do much better than that," says Ron Gomez, who owns the mare and gives her a comfortable home at his 25-acre NexStar Ranch in Temecula.

Noble Kinsman, trained by D. Wayne Baker, won the Cal Cup Starter Handicap at the Oak Tree meet in November and was nominated to the TVG Khaled Stakes on Gold Rush Day.

Royal Bonus, trained by Michael Whittingham, was nominated to the Gold Rush's Pepper Oaks Farm Stakes, but became ineligible for that event when he broke his maiden. That leaves Miss Nicolie, Noble Kinsman's 3-year-old full sister, as the most likely of Lady Snerd's offspring to run in the Gold Rush.

Winner of the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar last summer, Miss Nicolie, also trained by D. Wayne Baker, is a nominee to the Melair Stakes. She is entered in a Sunday allowance at Santa Anita.

Gomez, a native of Portland, Ore., who threw the javelin for the University of Oregon's track team, got into the horse business about 15 years ago after building successful real estate and storage businesses in Temecula and San Diego. He developed NexStar in 2000.

"I gave the place that name because I think a 'big' horse is somewhere out there in my future."

His streak of success with Lady Snerd began with Gomezmerise, her 1997 son by Cutlass Reality. At a January, 2001, sale, he sold the mare in foal to Honour and Glory, and Lady Snerd delivered a Kentucky-bred foal by that former D. Wayne Lukas-trained standout last year.

She was bred back to Honour and Glory, but also bought back by Gomez, for whom she will drop her 2003 Cal-bred foal.

"She didn't do much on the track when she raced for (Bob) Baffert," Gomez said. "But she's been a gem of a broodmare. I think I'll keep her this time."