Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sent to post as the 13-10 choice and the only filly or mare in the field of eight, Cali Baby responded with a 1 ¼-length win in Saturday’s 7-furlong, $40,000 E.T. Springer Handicap (R) for New Mexico-breds at The Downs at Albuquerque.
Eric Mikkelson saddled and Alfredo Juarez Jr. rode Cali Baby for owners Chris P. Hourigan and UKUSA Stables, and the homebred 4-year-old filly covered her 7/8-mile trip in 1:23.03 while earning her sixth victory in 12 races. The $24,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her earnings to $154,574.
Cali Baby was bred by Chris and Tina Hourigan, and she is one of 36 winners from 54 starters sired by Thatsusintheolbean, a son of the Sadler’s Wells stallion El Prado (IRE) and a half brother to Valid Belfast, the winner of the listed $100,000 Crescent Stakes at Lone Star Park in 2000 . A Florida-bred who won 11 stakes from 1997-2000 in Arizona, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas, Thatsusintheolbean has sired three stakes winners and the earners of more than $1.8 million from four crops. The stallion died in 2006.
Cali Baby’s dam, Aquarellist, is a winning 16-year-old daughter of the Danzig stallion Ole’ who ran third in the ’96 Courtship Stakes (R) for California-breds at Bay Meadows. Aqurellist has produced three winners from three starters, and she was bred to Pro Prado for a 2011 foal.
Cali Baby’s second dam, the Painted Wagon mare Unpainted, won the $68,950 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes (R) at Del Mar in 1988. A 1986 foal, Unpainted foaled Paint Scraper, a filly by Snow Chief who ran third in the ’93 CTBA Stakes (R) at Del Mar.
Cali Baby traces back to her fourth dam, the Mandate mare Flash Bam, who ran third in the ’75 Linda Vista Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Cali Baby’s E.T. Springer victory came in her first start against males and three weeks after she won the 6 ½-furlong, $40,000 Carlos Salazar Stakes (R) during the August 22 Lineage Day program at The Downs at Albuquerque. Her stakes record this year includes fourth-place finishes in both the 6 ½-furlong Russell and Helen Foutz Distaff Handicap (R) at SunRay Park on April 30, and the 1-mile Sydney Valentini Handicap (R) at Sunland Park in February.
Brother John D., Ty’s Pache, Brax, H.E.’s Fast, Smarty Ghost, Max Bean, and Jackpot Who completed the order of finish.
Brother John D. earned $8,000 to push his bankroll to $45,238 for owner Peggy B. Rust. A 4-year-old chestnut gelding by Sable’s Boy, the one-time $6,250 claimer was coming off of a second-place finish to Hesa Tough Dude in the 1 1/16-mile, $40,000 Lineage Stakes (R) on August 22.
Ty’s Pache races for Alfredo Terrazas, who claimed the 6-year-old Copelan’s Pache gelding for $8,000 at SunRay Park on June 27. Ty’s Pache banked $4,000 to boost his earnings to $180,444 from four wins in 46 outs. He ran second, 8 ½ lengths behind winner Enchanted Outlaw, in last year’s $191,575 New Mexico Cup Rocky Gulch Championship (R) at Zia Park.