Breaking from the outside post, Perfectly Nice set fractions
of :22 4/5, :46 3/5 and :58 2/5 on her way to a 8 3/4 length
score in a maiden special at 5 1/2 furlongs on November 27.
The promising daughter of Benchmark owned and bred by
Pam and Martin Wygod is a full sister to GI winner and
two-time California champion Idiot Proof ($1,294,484).

With three crops to the races, Bertrando concluded
the 1999 season with progeny earnings of $2,461,430,
and for next decade, his annual earnings have surpassed
$2 million, including $3,986,255 in 2000, $3,901,218 in 2001,
$4,054,004 in 2006 and $4,243,858 in 2007.

In a sweeping 5-wide move from last entering the stretch,
Spirit of Cochise gained the lead in the final sixteenth for a
1:09 4/5 victory in a $45,640 allowance feature at 6 furlongs
on November 26 for owner La Canada Stables, LLC and
trainer Jack Carava. The 4-year-old son of Tribal Rule has
earned $122,616 racing in Southern California.

Under a confident ride by Tyler Baze, Tribal Face rallied between horses
at the top of the stretch and “exploded away” according to track announcer
Trevor Denman, to a 3 1/2 length victory on October 21 as the favorite
in 1:03 3/5 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.

Stakes-placed at Del Mar, Tribal Face was an $80,000 March Sale purchase
at Barretts by owners Albert and Kathleen Mattivi.

Two lengths the best in maiden special company at Turf Paradise
on October 2, R El Jefe was the second choice in the colts and
geldings division of the $87,782 ATBA Sales Stakes on October 17.
Taking the lead in the stretch, the Benchmark juvenile drew away
to a 3 3/4 length score in 1:09 2/5 for owners F. Daniel and
S. Fifer Frost. For trainer David Van Winkle, the victory gave him
back-to-back wins in the annual feature with a River Edge sale grad.

Making his first start in more than 10 months, Karelian set
all the early fractions on the soft going and when challenged
by Court Vision with a furlong to go, the two fought stride
for stride to the wire with Karelian finishing second in the
$600,000 Grade I feature, 5 3/4 lengths clear of Mr. Sidney,
winner of the 2009 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes-G1.

A graded winner on the turf at Churchill Downs in 2008, the
Kentucky-bred son of Bertrando has earned $467,548 for
owner/breeder Green Lantern Stables.

Third in the Barretts Juvenile in his stakes debut, Bench the
Judge returned to the races 13 days later to win Oak Tree’s
California Cup Juvenile at the challenging distance of seven
furlongs by nearly 2 lengths on October 3. A $30,000 purchase
at Barretts’ May Sale of 2-year-olds in training, this promising
Benchmark colt has won or placed in each of 5 starts while
earning $116,322 for owner Robert Master. He is the first foal
from Call a Judge, a winning full sister to Southern California
graded winner Truly a Judge ($764,342).

In her first try on “dirt”, Smooth Performer took the lead in the
stretch to win the 1 1/16 mile E. B. Johnston Stakes at Fairplex
by nearly 2 lengths on September 12. The Grade II-placed filly
out of multiple graded winner Smooth Player ($760,496) also
has victories on turf and synthetic surfaces at Hollywood Park
and Del Mar while earning $212,900 for owner/breeders
Martin J. Wygod and John Spohler.

Closing ground swiftly from tenth on the turn, John Scott
rallied five wide in the stretch and was up in time to take the
$100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at 6 furlongs by three-quarters
of a length in 1:10.26 on September 7.

Winner of his August 2 debut at Del Mar in similar fashion,
the homebred trained by Carla Gaines has earned $90,600
for owners Scott Gross and Harris Farms.

As the 6-5 favorite over Triple Crown contender Chocolate Candy,
Grazen pressed the pace from the inside then gained the lead
between horses in the stretch for a game three-quarter length victory
in the one mile $100,000 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar, September 5.

The Nick Alexander homebred has won 4 of 6 starts, $245,400
including the G3 Affirmed Handicap.

Favored at 4-5 and facing older fillies and mares for the first time,
Chalula One gained the lead in mid-stretch and was 1 1/4 lenghts
clear at the wire, assuring victory in a $73,080 Del Mar allowance
at one mile on August 23. The 3-year-old daughter of Bertrando
bred and owned by Ralph and Aury Todd has an enviable record
of 8-3-3-1, $174,000.

Suit Yourself

Dancing Erin

Moving up to allowance company since being claimed
by trainer and co-owner Oscar Garcia, Suit Yourself
rewarded his connections with a $36,000 check for his
August 23 victory in allowance company at one mile.
The second-crop son of Tribal Rule has won five races
and $163,054.

“In a huge performance” according to track announcer
Trevor Denman, 3-year-old Dancing Erin set fractions
of 22.25, 44.78 and 56.49 on her way to a 1:09 victory
in a $59,400 allowance on August 21 for owner/breeder
Tom Grether Farms, Inc. The 3-year-old daughter of
Tribal Rule has earned $129,800.

Third in his previous two starts and coming off a :34 1/5 bullet
work, Bench the Judge went to post the favorite and rewarded
his backers and owner Robert Master with a 3/4 length victory
over first-timer Tribal Face in a $51,400 maiden special at
6 furlongs on August 20. The 2-year-old son of Benchmark was
a $30,000 purchase at Barretts’ May Sale.

Last of 10 leaving the gate, John Scott saved ground along
the rail, moved to the outside on the turn and rallied three
wide in the stretch to win a $53,400 maiden special in his
career debut on August 2nd. His time for the 5 1/2 furlongs
was 1:04.97.

Bred and owned by Harris Farms and Scott Gross, John
Scott is a half-brother to Distant Victory, stakes winner of
$199,596 and he is the third 2-year-old debut winner of 2009
for Bertrando who is represented by four juvenile winners
from six starters this year.

The high-weighted favorite at odds of 3-5, Tribesman
extended his win streak to four with a 1:08.52 victory
in the $53,000 Sam J. Whiting Memorial Handicap
at Pleasanton July 18 after setting fractions of 21.97,
43.81 and 55.32. The 5-year-old son of Tribal Rule
has won five sprint stakes wire-to-wire at five different
racetracks and has earned $438,201 for owner/breeder
Kjell Qvale and trainer Roger Hansen.

In his second start following a 15-month layoff, Sierra Sunset
won the $50,000 Alamedan Handicap July 5th at Pleasanton
in excellent time of 1:41 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. The 4-year-old
son of Bertrando is a graded winner of $459,696 and includes
the Rebel Stakes-G2 (pictured) among his four stakes victories.
Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. Wygod, Sierra Sunset was a
$40,000 purchase by trainer Jeff Bonde from River Edge Farm’s
2006 Northern California yearling sale consignment.

Rush with Thunder’s game second in the $300,000 Triple Bend
Handicap-G1 at Hollywood Park on July 5 and allowance wins by
Tribal Teen, Mr. Golden Ruler and She’s Outrageous over the
July 4th weekend increased Tribal Rule’s 2009 progeny earnings
to $1,100,580 for 52 starters.

As of June 28, Bertrando had sired three maiden special
weight winners from his first four starters, including Taro
and Bertran Hill at Hollywood Park.

A full sister to stakes winners Liberian Freighter ($409,996)
and Frankelstein ($238,300), Taro rallied four-wide at five
furlongs to win her first start by 3 1/4 lengths on June 25 for
breeders Pam and Martin Wygod.

Enjoying the added distance, Bertran Hill set all the fractions
graduating on June 28 at 5 1/2 furlongs by 4 1/2 lengths. Bred
by his owners Curt and Lila Lanning, Bertran Hill is the third
foal from his stakes-winning dam Amber Hills ($261,143).

Under a confident ride by jockey Rafael Bejarano*, Benchmark
3-year-old Grazen extended his win streak to three with a front-
running 2 3/4 length victory in the Affirmed Handicap-G3 on
June 20 at Hollywood Park.

Setting fractions of 24.06, 46.97, 1:10.57 and 1:35.09, Grazen
completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.40, the fastest time since
General Challenge set the stakes record in 1999. The victory
gave owner/breeder Nick Alexander his first stakes win.

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In his first start since setting a new stakes record in the
$150,000 California Cup Sprint Handicap last October,
Tribesman made a triumphant return to the races June 5
at Golden Gate, taking the $49,686 sprint feature gate to
wire in 1:09.45.

The Kjell Qvale homebred trained by Roger Hansen has
won 9 of 16 starts and $407,201.

Testing his mettle in unrestricted company following his
victory in the 6 1/2 furlong NTRA Stakes for Cal-bred
maidens, Grazen broke on top and lead throughout the
1 1/16 miles to win the $59,000 allowance on May 23
at 6-5 odds. The Nick Alexander homebred has earned
$75,400 in three starts.

Showing promise at 2, Tactful overcame the inside post and
an eight-month layoff to win his 2009 debut on May 17th by
nearly three lengths in 1:09 3/5 after setting all the fractions.
The Harris Farms homebred is a half-brother to stakes winners
Green Team and Spot the Diplomat.

In allowance company at Hollywood Park, Spirit of Cochise
posted his second win of 2009, taking the lead four-wide in
mid-stretch for a 1:09 2/5 score.

At Hastings Park in maiden special company, 3-year-old
Tribal Teen won his second start, setting fractions of 22.16,
45.21, 1:09.94 and 1:16.75 while defeating sons of Storm Cat,
Street Cry, Mr. Greeley and In Excess.

Winner of his synthetic track debut at two, Liberian Freighter
returned to the main track following 12 consecutive races on the
turf, to win the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes on April 25th as the
favorite, setting a new stakes record of 1:27.74 for the 7 1/2 furlongs.

The Bertrando 4-year-old has won or placed in 13 of 15 starts for
earnings of $403,996.

Rule the Storm

Seventh at the half-mile pole, Tribal Justice
rallied four wide on the turn and into the stretch to
win the $71,200 Grey Memo Stakes at 7 furlongs
by nearly a length in 1:21.32 as the favorite.

Not realizing that her odds were the second longest
on the board, Rule the Storm celebrated her fourth
birthday with a victory in the $72,800 Warren’s
Thoroughbred Stakes on April 25th. Small in stature
but big on determination, Rule the Storm has finished
first or second in each of five starts this year.

Breaking from the 12 slot in a field of 14, Grazen posted the
initial fraction of :21.98, lost the lead then regained the advantage,
setting the 6-furlong split of 1:07.76 to win the $63,200 NTRA
Maiden Stakes in his second start by 2 1/2 lengths. His time of
1:13.89 was only .52 over the track record for 6 1/2 furlongs.

Congratulations to owner/breeder Nick Alexander.

Making his second start down Santa Anita’s hillside course,
Liberian Freighter pressed the pace in second and gained
the lead in midstretch to win the $125,000 Sensational Star
Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths as the favorite for owners Shawn
Dugan, King Edward Racing and Charles Winner.

Finishing among the top three in 12 of 14 starts, Liberian
Freighter has earned $313,996 and is a full brother to stakes
winner Frankelstein ($238,300).

Two-turn professional Paloma’s Flight (inside) shadowed the
pace then launched her run in midstretch to win the March 26th
allowance co-feature by a neck earning $31,200 for her effort.

An allowance winner at one mile on the turf at Del Mar last
year, the homebred daughter of Benchmark and Exclusive
Report has earned $123,180 for owner James Wilson.

Taking advantage of an early contested pace, Chalula One
stalked from the outside then rallied three wide entering the
stretch, gaining the lead in the final furlong to win the $47,400
allowance at 6 furlongs by a length on March 22.

The victory was the second in four starts for the daughter of
Bertrando out of the Phone Trick mare Call Mama bred and
owned by Aury and Ralph Todd.

In a bold move on the outside entering the stretch,
Georgie Boy took the lead for an easy 2 3/4 length
victory in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap-G2
at Santa Anita as the 1-2 favorite on February 21.
The G1-winning 4-year-old son of Tribal Rule has
won six stakes, $788,634 in 11 starts.

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More than seven lengths behind the pace-setter at the
half-mile pole, Georgie Boy geared up on the turn and
powered into contention on the rail, running the final
quarter in :22 and change for a 2 1/4 length victory in
1:08.12 for the six furlongs.

A Grade I winner at two, Georgie Boy was a multiple
graded winner at Santa Anita last winter at three. The
second-crop son of Tribal Rule has earned $698,634
in 10 starts. Congratulations to owner/breeder George
Schwary and trainer Kathy Walsh.

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Breaking from the outside post in a field of 11, Ducky Drake
was bumped at the start and fell back to last. Working his way
through traffic, the Benchmark 7-year-old closed with a rush to
win the $50,000 G Malleah Handicap on January 24th at Turf
Paradise in time of 1:07.68 for owner/breeders Ralph and Aury
Todd. Bred and raised at River Edge Farm, Ducky Drake has
won or placed in 23 of 28 starts for earnings of $364,689.

Posting a 71 Beyer in her 2-year-old debut at Hollywood Park on
December 11, Dancing Erin was the second choice at 5-2 facing
unrestricted maiden special weight company at Santa Anita on
New Year’s day. Breaking smartly, the Tribal Rule sophomore
set fractions of 22.06, 45.32, 57.11 and 1:03.55 to win by 3 lengths
and bank $35,100 for her effort.

Congratulations to owner/breeder Tom Grether Farms, Inc. and
trainer Gary Sherlock.