Brad McKinzie, a racing executive who played a vital role in the expansion of Los Alamitos in recent years, died after a battle with cancer Sunday afternoon, according to his friends and Los Alamitos officials.
McKinzie was 62 and had been in declining health in recent months.
“I don’t know anyone that met him that didn’t think he was one of the best guys they ever met,” California Horse Racing Board executive director Rick Baedeker said on Sunday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – As an actor for a decade, Maria Falgione saw her name on playbills for Las Vegas stage shows and in credits of television programs and films.
Seeing it for the first time as a jockey on the overnight for Wednesday’s eighth race at Del Mar was a different experience.
“It was surreal,” she said over the weekend.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Bolt d’Oro was standing in his stall in the Del Mar stables on Sunday morning when his biggest fan and admirer began praising the 2-year-old colt.
“He’s a dream,” said owner and trainer Mick Ruis. “He can take you places.”
The previous day, Bolt d’Oro won his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs, overcoming a bump with a rival after the start to win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.
“I’m glad I got that done,” Ruis said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The first time Kentucky owner and breeder Don Robinson visited Del Mar he was a high school graduate working in the stables in the mid-1960s.
“We swam horses in the surf,” he recalled Saturday. “I was here for a short time and it was unforgettable.”
For Robinson, so was Saturday afternoon at Del Mar. Cambodia, a 5-year-old mare he bred and owns, won the most prestigious race of her career in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for fillies and mares on turf.
“It’s the biggest thrill of my life,” he said in the winner’s circle.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The California 2-year-old division has gained new members from Florida and the Caribbean in advance of Saturday’s Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.
Dia de Pago, a maiden race winner at Gulfstream Park on June 18, and Master Ruler, the winner of two races in Puerto Rico, were recently bought privately and sent to California-based trainers.
Dia de Pago was acquired by David and Holly Wilson and has been with trainer Vladimir Cerin for more than a month.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Gun Runner didn’t just collect $650,000, his third career Grade 1 victory and the plaudits that go along with the dominant performance he put forth in winning Saturday’s $1.2 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.
He also took home a lucky rabbit’s foot.
The shoe that flew off Cautious Giant and landed in Gun Runner’s tail with a half-mile remaining in the Whitney is now in the possession of his connections, who shelled out $100 for the souvenir after initially discarding it.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sassy Little Lila was scratched from Saturday’s $100,000 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga and now might make her next start against males in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave here, trainer Brad Cox said.
“We’re going to look at the Fourstardave right now. It’s nothing definite, but it’s a possibility,” Cox said Saturday morning. “I think it depends on the weights and the pace scenario.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Songbird worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Saturday morning at Del Mar, but trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he and owner Rick Porter had yet to pick out a next race for the two-time champion filly, saying that three scenarios are still in play.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kiaran McLaughlin won two races on Friday’s card at Saratoga, giving the veteran trainer a brief reprieve from what has been a difficult week.
In a 36-hour span, McLaughlin had two horses suffer fatal injuries here. In Thursday’s $100,000 Birdstone Stakes, Munjaz was pulled up on the second turn and was later euthanized with an injury to his left rear leg. On Wednesday, the 3-year-old Marshall Plan came out of a half-mile workout over the main track with an injury that resulted in him having to be euthanized.
