Cal-bred News

Unfurl the Flag Seeks Cal Cup Rebound

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2005) – Grade I winner Unfurl the Flag will find 10 opponents, including defending champion Areyoutalkintome, when he returns to California-bred company in Sunday’s $150,000 Dodge/Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Unfurl the Flag is by Bertrando, out of the Storm Cat mare Escape the Storm, was bred by Marty and Pam Wygod and is owned by Alshie or Harris or Rose, et al. He has six wins in 20 starts, earnings of $622,408 and is coming off finishes of sixth and seventh in the graded Pat O’Brien and Vosburgh Handicaps, after earlier winning the Grade I Triple Bend and the Cal-bred Tiznow Stakes.

Jet West is by Western Fame, out of the Kennedy Road mare Jeinwith Kennedy, was bred by Applebite Farms and is owned by Bruce Hochman. The $50,000 Barretts purcahse has six wins in 12 starts, earnings of $184,249 and is coming off consecutive optional claiming wins after being claimed for $62,500.

Dancing Groom is by Funontherun, out of the Twining mare Mighty Mighty, was bred by Matthew Rasich and is owned by Tule Creek Farm. He has one win in five starts, earnings of $69,520 and is coming off a second in an Oct. 15 allowance.

Retired Habit is a lightly raced 8-year-old by Mr. Integrity, out of the My Habitony mare Lady Habit and was bred by owner Charles Gold. He has six wins in 14 starts, earnings of $205,560 and is coming off a third in a $50,000 claimer.

Jack’s Wild is by Lil Tyler, out of the Affirmed mare It’s Binnice, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds and is owned by Alex Venneri. He has two wins in nine starts, earnings of $63,808 and is coming off a fourth in an Oct. 15 allowance.

Proud Tower Too is by Proud Irish, out of the Irish Tower mare Dora’s Tower and was bred by owner Tricar Stables. He has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $136,014 and is coming off an eight-length allowance win Oct. 12. He is the brother of 2000 Cal Cup Juvenile winner Proud Tower.

Bilo is by Bertrando, out of the Devil’s Bag mare Raffle’s Bag, was bred by Ed Nahem and is owned by King Edward Stables. He has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $196,256 and is coming off a sixth in the Oct. 8 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup.

Defending champion Areyoutalkintome is by Smokester, out of the Storm Bird mare Andrea Gail, was bred by John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery and is owned by Manzani or Sarno. The $10,000 Barretts purchase has seven wins in 24 starts, earnings of $506,107 and is coming off a fourth in the California Sprint Championship Sept. 24.

Ninety Fine is by Event of the Year, out of the Husar mare She’s Smokin, was bred by The Thoroughbred Corp. and is owned by The Hat Ranch, Bachelor & Gianulias. The $20,000 Barretts purchase has two wins in 17 starts, earnings of $139,272 and is coming off a third in an Oct. 15 allowance.

Ata Olympio is by Olympio, out of the Clever Trick mare Atay, was bred by Eugene Burnison and is owned by Circle B Ranch. He has six wins in nine starts, earnings of $188,280 and is coming off a fifth in an Oct. 12 allowance. He won last year’s Cal Cup Starter Sprint Handicap.

Thor’s Echo is by Swiss Yodeler, out of the Mr. Integrity mare Helen of Troy, was bred by Fast Lane Farms & Block & Forman and is owned by Suarez Racing & Royce Jaime Racing. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $486,053 and is coming off a third in the Oct. 1 Indiana Derby having earlier won the WinStar Derby and Real Good Deal Stakes.