Siblings Race for Gold

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 26, 2001) - What are the odds of having a broodmare produce two foals entered to run on Saturday's Gold Rush Day II card at Hollywood Park?

Not as long as you might think.

There are six broodmares that will have double representation Saturday. Three of them have full siblings entered on the card.

Sharon's Barron, owned by CTBA president Wes Fitzpatrick, is the dam of Irisheyesareflying (Quicken Tree Stakes) and L.A. Fitz (Merial Stakes). They are both sired by Flying Continental and were bred by Fitzpatrick.

Pharapache is the dam of Lily's Lad (Khaled Stakes) and Abounding (Jacklin Klugman Maiden Stakes). Both were sired by Bertrando and were bred by Marshall Naify. Pharapache also is the dam of Cliquot, a graded-stakes winner and Snow Chief Stakes winner.

Queen's River is the dam of Queen Creek (Lakeview Thoroughbred Farms Stakes) and Water Czar (Jacklin Klugman Maiden Stakes). They were both sired by Moscow Ballet and were bred by Harris Farms.

The other mares represented by two runners each Saturday are Malojen, Video Menu and Bless Shoe.

Malojen, owned by Cardiff Farm Management and Mike Sloan, produced Astra Ridge (Quicken Tree Stakes) and Stefandrew (Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm Stakes). Video Menu produced Cover Gal (B. Thoughtful Stakes) and Mr. Steve (Merial Stakes) for breeder Ron Gomez. Lakers owner Jerry Buss bred G.L.'s Gold Strike (Merial Stakes) and Shoe Crazy (Fran's Valentine Stakes) out of the mare Bless Shoe.

Bertrando, the son of Skywalker, will be the sire with the largest representation Saturday with nine progeny entered (eight are maidens). Flying Continental and In Excess are next with five entrants, followed by Cee's Tizzy and General Meeting with four each.

For Nancy Yearsley, who stands Flying Continental at Harris Farms for a $5,000 stud fee, his impact Saturday is reflective of his position in the California breeding industry.

"He's done it the hard way," said Yearsley. "He produces very sound, hard-knocking racehorses. They are quality horses that go a route of ground and ultimately that's what you want. He shouldn't be penalized because he doesn't have the Grade I winner. He produces horses with grit."

In statistics provided by the Jockey Club through April 5, Flying Continental is second in California sires rankings for winners and races won to Beau Genius, who arrived in California from Florida before this season. Flying Continental's progeny have earned $4.98 million. At $297,756, Irisheyesareflying is his biggest earner.

Fitzpatrick purchased Sharon's Barron as a yearling out of the Keeneland September sale in 1990. After a brief racing career, he retired her to the breeding shed and arranged for multiple breedings to Flying Continental. He will watch the brothers race with pride.

"The Gold Rush and the Cal Cup are days where breeders are able to showcase our horses in front of our peers and that's exciting, because breeders understand what it means and what it takes to get a horse in these races," said Fitzpatrick.
In the Quicken Tree Stakes, Fitzpatrick winds up competing against himself. Continental Red, another son of Flying Continental owned by his wife, will face the other one they bred, Irisheyesareflying.

"I was hoping Irisheyesareflying would go in the Khaled Stakes, but that race came up tough and the connections took what appears to be an easier path," he said. "The breeder awards are important, but of course if Continental Red wins, the payoff is immediate."

Fitzpatrick bred three horses that will compete Saturday. Leaders in the breeders category with five are Ron Gomez, the Walter Family Trust and John and Betty Mabee. Harris Farms bred four and is in partnership with a fifth.