2003 Cal-bred News

Gold Rush IV
Saturday April 26, 2003

General Challenge Returns in Tiznow

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2003) -- General Challenge, one of the most popular and accomplished California-breds in recent years, culminates his unlikely comeback Saturday when he heads a field of 10 in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes for older horses on the Gold Rush card at Hollywood Park.

General Challenge is a multiple Grade I winner of more than $2.8 million who hasn't run since finishing fourth in the Aug. 26, 2000 Pacific Classic. He is by General Meeting, out of the Smarten mare Excellent Lady, and was bred by Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee.

His toughest rival could prove to be fellow millionaire Grey Memo, who finished second in the $1 million Godolphin Mile and has two wins at this 7 1/2 furlong distance at Hollywood Park. He is by Memo, out of the Snow Chief mare B. Mozelle, and was bred by Ridgeley Farm. He has more than $1.7 million in earnings.

Bonus Pay Day is by Bonus Money, out of the Louisiana Slew mare Tiny Boots, and was bred by Ron Gomez. He has nine career wins and nearly $350,000 in earnings but it looking for his first stakes win.

Commander's Flag is by Spinning World, out of the Mr. Prospector mare Gay Chiffon, and was bred by Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee. He has a three-race win streak and is making his stakes debut.

Joey Franco is by Avenue of Flags, out of the Native Prospector mare Susan Powter, and was bred by Jerry Frankel. He is a stakes winner coming off a second in the Mar. 29 Potrero Grande Breeders Cup Handicap. He has four wins in 11 starts and $220,816 in earnings.

Ride and Shine is by High Brite, out of the Red Ryder mare Shining Ryder, and was bred by Souheil and Raed Bisharat. He is looking for his first stakes win, but has $281,803 in earnings and is coming off a third in a Mar. 19 allowance.

Sombrio is by Siberian Summer, out of the Relaunch mare Tengo Prisa, and was bred by Granja Vista Del Rio. Claimed for $62,500 last May, he has run only four times since, with a fifth in an Apr. 6 allowance.

Swordfish is by Cutlass Reality, out of the Avatar mare Seaside, and was bred by Rubin Brown. He was second in the March Madness Handicap Mar. 23 and has nearly $200,000 in earnings, despite only two wins.

Stakes winner Vito Corleone, a Del Mar Yearling Sales graduate, has four wins in 14 starts and $159,033 in earnings. He is by Memo, out of the Fort Calgary mare Fort Silver. He won the St. Paul Stakes last May and is making his first start in 11 months.

Waingarth is a stakes winner by Slewpy, out of the Zamboni mare Beverly Z., and was bred by Oakcrest Stable. He is looking for his first win in 19 months and is coming off a sixth in a Mar. 20 optional claimer.