Moscow Burning is Maddy’s Link
To Sunshine Millions

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2005) -- When Sen. Ken Maddy died on Feb. 18, 2000, John Harris lost one of his closest friends in the thoroughbred industry.

Thirty days after Maddy lost his long battle with lung cancer -- on March 19, 2000 -- a bay filly was foaled at Harris Farms.

She is Moscow Burning, a 5-year-old daughter of Moscow Ballet-Burning Desire, by Mr. Leader and the likely favorite in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29.

Harris and Maddy are listed as Moscow Burning’s co-breeders.

“I sold 10 percent of Burning Desire to Ken after I bought her at a Keenelend fall sale of broodmares,” Harris recalled.

“He and I were close friends for years. I’m sorry he wasn’t around when Moscow Burning was born and never got the chance to see her run. I still think of him often and greatly value all his friendship and contributions.”

Burning Desire, now 14 years old, has had six foals reach racing age and Moscow Burning is by far the most successful while competing against some of the best grass runners in the world.

She won the Cal Cup Distance Handicap at Santa Anita as a 3-year-old. She began her 4-year-old campaign by running second in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, then went on to race 10 more times at five other tracks.

She won twice, capturing in successive starts the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Cal-breds at Hollywood Park and the Grade II Sheepshead Bay Handicap at Belmont Park.

Moscow Burning ended a solid competitive year with fourth-place finishes in, respectively, the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Lone Star Park and the $250,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup was her second try against males. In the Del Mar Handicap, she ran third to Star Over the Bay and Sarafan.

With eight victories from 20 starts, she has earned $807,535 for owners Michael Nentwig of Fremont, Calif., Jeff Mariani of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and Dallas Von Kempen of San Marcos, Calif.

“She’s been very consistent, very steady, her whole career,” trainer Jim Cassidy said of the mare, who can climb past the $1 million earnings mark with a victory in the Sunshine Millions.

“She’s shipped around the country to race and I can’t imagine that another trip to Florida will bother her. She adjusts well to wherever she is.”

Moscow Burning ran fifth in the Grade II Orchid Handicap last March, her only previous appearance at Gulfstream Park.

Wherever she travels, she carries Sen. Maddy’s name with her in the program as her co-breeder.

Maddy served in the state legislature for 28 years, the first seven in the Assembly and the next 21 in the Senate. His legislative efforts on behalf of California racing helped bring about the extensive simulcasting network that is in place today.

“He loved racing from the time he walked hots for Mel Stute as a boy,” Harris said. “He was very concerned about the health of the industry and always tried to keep other people in state government as informed as possible about racing. I’m proud he was my friend.”
--Larry Bortstein