Gold Rush

Gold Rush Recap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 27, 2008) - Sunday’s $1.31 million Gold Rush featured a maiden winning the marquee event, a winner taken down by the stewards, a filly winning for the second time in three days, a pair of winners sired by Unusual Heat and trained by Barry Abrams, three winners ridden by Michael Baze and a loss by one of the all-time California-bred winners.

First, the maiden. That would be Harlene, who added blinkers for his seventh career start and won the $250,000 Cal National Snow Chief Stakes. Harlene is by Decarchy, out of the Chief’s Crown mare Tiara Glow, was bred by Magali Ventures, foaled at Magali Farms, is owned by Claimboxdotcom, Royce Jaime Stable and W C Racing, is trained by Doug O’Neill and was ridden by Michael Baze, who had two winners earlier on the card. Harlene is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Hockey the General and his longshot win helped assure a carryover of the guaranteed $1 million Pick Six.

Gambler’s Justice was the winner who was disqualified, taken down for interference in the stretch run of the $200,000 Melair Stakes, making a winner out of Bel Air Sizzle. Bel Air Sizzle is by Unusual Heat, out of the Runaway Groom mare Bel Air Belle, was bred by owners Abrams, Loverso and Auerbach, was foaled at Old English Rancho, ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Abrams, who supposedly mistakenly entered her. Abrams won the previous race on the Gold Rush card, the B. Thoughtful Stakes, with Spenditallbaby, also sired by Unusual Heat.

That rearranging of the finish was noteworthy, because Bel Air Sizzle won an allowance race on Thursday and was wheeled back because Abrams inadvertently entered the filly instead of Latent Heat. One race earlier, another Unusual Heat filly, Spenditallbaby, won the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes. Spenditallbaby is by Unusual Heat, out of the Dynaformer mare Andover the Money, was bred by Abrams/Roberts, Nakkashian, Johnson, et al and is owned by Fiorito, Johnson, Roberts, et al, was foaled at Old English Rancho, trained by Abrams and ridden by Baze.

Tutta Bella and Stella Mark won a pair of short-field races. Tutta Bella won the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes after the scratch of Lightmyfirebaby. Tutta Bella is by Holy Bull, out of the Red Ransom mare Griselda, was bred by owner Pam Ziebarth, was foaled at Harris Farms, is trained by John Sadler and was ridden by Garrett Gomez.

Stella Mark won the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes, which was decimated by six scratches, including Grade I winner Bilo. Stella Mark is by Benchmark, out of the Deputy Minister mare Social Savvy, was bred by Marty and Pam Wygod, was foaled at River Edge Farm, is owned by Jeff Sengara, trained by Ted West and was ridden by Brice Blanc. He was making his stakes debut.

Along with the winners, there were losers, most notable among them being Cal-bred star Lava Man, who came off a five-month layoff to finish third in the $150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes, which was won by Mr. Wolverine. Mr. Wolverine is a 6-year-old gelding by Last Lion, out of the L’Enjoleur mare April Mom, was bred by Elmer Ramos, was foaled at Rancho Santa Rosa, is owned by Begie, Dreyfus and Venneri Racing, is trained by Jorge Gutierrez and was ridden by Baze.

On-track attendance was 8,034 and total handle was $15,632.321.