Ringaskiddy--California Gold Rush II

Trainer Juan Garcia finally had a reason to celebrate at Gold Rush Day last year. Two races after he watched Native Desert lose a close one to Spinelessjellyfish in the Khaled, he found himself in the winner's circle after the longest race on the day's card.

Ringaskiddy, a 5-year-old gelding he had claimed at Santa Anita in January for $50,000, had just scored his initial stakes victory in the 1 1/2-mile Quicken Tree Stakes at 22-1 odds. The win also marked a banner day for Sebastopol residents Robert and Barbara Walter, who had bred Ringaskiddy in addition to B. Thoughtful Stakes winner Lazy Slusan. Like Lazy Slusan, Ringaskiddy was sired by Slewvescent (Special T Thoroughbreds). 

"He can run a mile, he can run a mile and a half," Garcia said while enjoying the replay of the race with owner Leonard Scofield. "But he can just make one run and you have to time it right. I told the jockey that."

Jockey Isaias Enriquez followed Garcia's instructions to the letter. He moved Ringaskiddy from eighth place between horses on the far turn, splitting rivals in midstretch. The gelding took the lead nearing the wire and held off late bids of Adminniestrator and Continental Red in a three-horse photo, completing 12 furlongs in 2:26 1/5.

Sixth in the Quicken Tree a year earlier, Ringaskiddy had all the trappings of a perpetual runner-up. He had been winless in 12 outings since arriving from Florida for the 2000 Gold Rush, but had 10 seconds and six thirds in 36 previous starts. The Quicken Tree was Ringaskiddy's fourth career win and raised his earnings to $242,565.

Adminniestrator just nosed out Continental Red for second, but it was a good effort for the latter, bred and owned by CTBA President Wes Fitzpatrick and his wife Sharon. The Fitzpatricks also bred fourth place finisher Irisheyesareflying, the 9-10 favorite by virtue of his strong fourth to Tiznow in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Of the top four in last year's Quicken Tree, the two sons of Flying Continental--Irisheyesareflying and Continental Red--who went on to become graded stakes winners. The former won the Grade III Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs and the Cal Cup Classic as well, while the latter just captured the Grade II San Luis Rey Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on turf March 16. Ringaskiddy was third in the Cal Cup Mile and a fast-closing fourth behind Continental Red in the San Luis Rey.