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Hall of Fame - California
Original article written by Laura Ferguson posted 13 years 2 weeks agoCalifornia: A Tale of Two Colts
While this is a story about California, and how he got into the Hall of Fame, this is really a tale of two colts. Both beautifully bred, both striking in looks, both quick to show amazing talent. And yet, one colt’s life was cut short before his career ever had a chance to begin.
The immortal Sahara Gold is known for being the producer of such luminaries as Loki Dynasty, Loki Masterpiece, Loki Flame, Lokite Magic, Loki Paradise, etc., but in real life, she had a colt who looked to be every bit their equal. A handsome bay colt by A.P. Indy, the unnamed colt caught the eye of every passerby at the Keeneland September sale. The Steward and I were there, and entering the ring, he simply looked special. He sold for $3,100,000, and went through a series of odd names: Red Indian, then The Pharaoh, another, before finally settling on Idaho. Yes, Idaho. Not the best name for such a glorious looking colt, perhaps, but whatever. He looked every bit the part, until he tragically died during a morning workout.
And so, I decided to create a colt in his honor. I picked the same cross, A.P. Indy out of a Seeking the Gold mare, and named him California (Baltimore Crown winner and top sire Boise was also named in Idaho’s honor). He was a handsome bay, and it was already late in the year, so I wasted no time getting him to the races. He won easily by 8 ½ lengths at a distance that was too short for him, and immediately moved into stakes competition. Not seasoned enough for the Steward’s Cup Juvenile, I decided to prep him over the Louisville Downs surface, where he again won under a hand ride, this time by 7 ½ lengths. It was time to play catch up. California would kick off the Triple Crown trail with a 15 ½ length romp in the Lane’s End Stakes (now the Tremendous). He wheeled right back in the Blue Grass Stakes, and again, he won handily, by 5 ½ lengths. Never tested, never beaten. I had actually shipped him back to the farm before disaster struck (this in the old days of random bad stuff happening). After the race, no injury, shipped to Trial By Summer, no injury, checked again. Injured, out of Derby. I was crushed. This ranks as the third worst thing ever to happen to me in the SIM (behind the old SIM closing and Desert Darkness, California’s dam, dropping dead, as my random bad thing for that year, three days before Del Mar won the Derby).
So, we regrouped. I had to play catchup, and while California could make the Baltimore Crown, it was really pushing things. But, the Triple Crown only comes around once. So, I pushed it. California gave it a good try, but it really was asking a lot, and he tasted defeat for the first time in his career, finishing less than a length behind Empire, and a head behind wonder filly (and future broodmare) Wonder. He would gain redemption with an easy score in the Long Island Classic, earning the white carnations, and giving me my first classic win. Such a special moment, especially with a colt who meant so much to me. Only Black Condor ranks ahead of California in my heart.
So, after all that, I gave California a well deserved break, and brought him back in the Travers, where he ended up a ½ length behind the talented Kiddo. I was a little disappointed with the loss, but he came right back and closed out the year with a victory in the Super Derby. I briefly thought about the Steward’s Cup, but I think it is a difficult task for a three year old to beat older horses, and California had done so much that year, I wanted to give him a break and point for the big three handicaps in California (Arcadia Handicap, Inglewood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic – now Oceanside Classic), that Lava Man had won. In the end, California had done enough to earn Champion 3yo Colt.
So, the plan went off without a hitch. California romped in a prep, then swept his way through the big three, turning the tables on Kiddo in the Arcadia Handicap by ½ length, then romping home a 4 ¾ length winner in the Inglewood Classic. In the meantime, workouts had come into play, and California was putting in one fast work after another between races to keep fit; which times, as of this writing, still rank as the fastest clocked in the history of the SIM for five and six furlongs. California would beat Kiddo again in the Pacific Classic, and it was on to the Steward’s Cup. California simply could not beat Pillar of Strength that day, and while I was disappointed, Pillar of Strength had run an amazing race, and was the deserving winner. So, California retired to stud with 10 wins in 13 starts, never finishing worse than third, and earnings of over $4 million.
California would prove to be just as good a sire as he was a racehorse. His first crop included Derby winner Frisco Kid, and graded stakes winners Beat By Beat, Hidalgo and Baja. California’s best runners include the fillies Salute the Sky, Bodega Bay and Significant, and colts Redwood (champion 2yo) and Inferno. His three year old crop may be his best yet, with the Derby-placed California Saint, top filly Whitney, Avalon Bay, Midwest, Battle the Best and Fresno.
Frisco Kid has not come close to his sire in terms of his success in the breeding shed, but the California fillies are proving to be excellent broodmares. His daughters have already produced Camoflauge, Triumph, Attire, and Draped, with many fast working 2yos and yearlings.
California was pensioned last year, shortly before being inducted into the Hall of Fame. After spending most of his career in California, he now lives at Nursery Stud, where I can visit him almost every day. He has been a treat and a privilege, and has done his best to live the life that Idaho should have.