Gold Rush

Tommy Town Impacts Gold Rush

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Apr. 24, 2006) -- Owners Tom and Debi Stull are particularly happy that 11-year-old Old Topper and 14-year-old Valid Wager, two of California’s best stallions, are residents of the Tommy Town Thoroughbreds farm.

They each account for four of the Tommy Town-nominated horses to the California Gold Rush at Hollywood Park on April 30.

“We’re very proud that we have two stallions as popular as they are,” farm manager Mike Allen said.

In all, the farm has 11 runners nominated to nine Gold Rush races. A fifth Old Topper offspring, bred elsewhere, also is nominated.

The California Gold Rush is a series of 10 races for state-breds worth $1.3 million in purses.
Old Topper is having an impact on the national breeding scene.

“He’s exceeded expectations,” Allen said. “He was mostly a sprinter when he raced, but he’s getting babies who can run long or short and can run on grass. He moves up his mares, too. There are some mares who haven’t had successful foals until they were bred to him. That’s why he’s being bred to more than 100 mares a year.”

Topping the Old Topper offspring among the Gold Rush nominees is Top This and That, a candidate for the $150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Santa Anita Handicap winner Lava Man also is nominated to the TVG Khaled.

A 4-year-old gelding out of the Theatrical mare Emmy Ann, Top This and That is trained by Dan Hendricks, who also is the trainer of Kentucky Derby favorite and fellow Cal-bred Brother Derek.

In his most recent start, Top This and That finished second to High Limit in the $200,000 San Fernando Stakes, a Grade II event at Santa Anita. He has won four of his 16 races, including one victory in four tries on grass.

Tommy Town’s other Gold Rush nominees by Old Topper are fillies Silly Little Mama, Gotta Go Gal and O.K. Topless.

Silly Little Mama, named to the 1 1/16-mile Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, is out of the Dehere mare White Truffle. Gotta Go Gal, nominated to the seven-furlong B. Thoughtful Stakes for older fillies and mares, is a 4-year-old filly out of the Bob’s Dusty mare Annapolis Fan. O.K. Topless, nominated to the Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes, also contested at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares, is a 4-year-old filly out of Ok Matt, by Raised Socially.

A fifth Old Topper offspring nominated to the Gold Rush is Heyore, a 3-year-old gelding named to the Pepper Oaks Farm Stakes. Out of the Sejm mare Amber’s Cup, he was co-bred by trainer Mike Machowsky.

Valid Wager also has a faithful fan base.

“We have some clients who send mares to him all the time,” said Allen.

The four Valid Wager nominees to the Gold Rush races are Diamond Wager, Elegant Wager, Honky Tonk Baby and Racy Ack.

Diamond Wager, named to the Pepper Oaks Farm Stakes, is a 3-year-old colt out of My Diamond, by Carr de Naskra. Elagant Wager, who is nominated to both the Melair Stakes and Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes, is a 3-year-old filly out of the Cryptoclearance mare Willy’s Bid.

Honky Tonk Baby and Racy Ack are 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 6 ½-furlong Magali Farms Stakes. The former is out of the Exuberant mare Silver Symphony, and the latter is by the Broad Brush mare Racy Broad.

Mr. Playwright, Night Dash and Crank Caller are the other runners bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds who have been nominated to the Gold Rush.

Mr. Playwright is named to the $250,000 Cal National Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds. He is by Vaudeville out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Irish Carey. Night Dash is a candidate for the TVG Khaled and the Tiznow Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on the main track for 3-year-olds and up. A 4-year-old gelding, he is also by Vaudeville out of the Order mare Ordergraf.

Crank Caller is a 3-year-old gelding who is a candidate for the Barretts Stakes and Pepper Oaks Farm Stakes. He’s by El Corredor out of the Caller I.D.mare Call'er Incredible.

--Larry Bortstein