Farm Manager Dennis Yokum

Racing success is all about making good decisions consistently. Rancho San Miguel is dedicated to helping you achieve success in racing, breeding, and sales.  Whether you are well-established or just starting out, looking to acquire the right mares or yearlings, selecting the best matings for your mare, or simply seeking advice on upgrading your program, we can offer customized services to meet each client’s goals. Manager Dennis Yokum brings decades of experience and success in the industry, including numerous California-bred champions.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dennis directly at 714-292-9685

Championship Honors

Horses selected and/or managed by Yokum have twice been finalists for Eclipse Awards (Rock Hard Ten and Seattle Smooth); and during his four year tenure, Premier Thoroughbreds earned ten CTBA Championships, including Horse of the Year (twice), Two-Year-Old Male of the Year, Broodmare of the Year (twice), Sprinter of the Year (twice), Three-Year-Old Female, and Older Female of the Year (twice).

Broodmare Selection

Nearly half of all the mares Dennis has purchased have had black type AFTER the purchase.  These include the producers of graded stakes winners Stormy Lucy (G1) – $851,700, Plus Que Parfait (G2) – $1,792,485, Notional (G2) – $733,240, Magnolia Jackson (G2) – $536,598, Broadway Empire (G2) – $531,674, Adios Charlie (G2) – $251,090, Subtle Indian (G3) – $600,645 and Sir Anthony (G3) – $444,986.

Yearling Selection

Three times, yearlings Dennis has purchased at auction have, in subsequent years, graced that sale’s catalog cover: for Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, and Barretts.  Several yearlings have subsequently become stakes winners including Seattle Smooth, a G1 winning millionaire.  He also purchased Indian Way as a weanling; she was a stakes winner, G1-placed, and a track record setter going six furlongs (1:07 3/5).  

Mating Selections

Dennis has recommended and arranged the matings that have produced multiple stakes winners including the Graded stakes winners Stormy Lucy (G1) (pictured), Ciao Bella Luna (G2), Broadway Empire (G3), Run It (G3), and Orthodox (G3).

Racehorse Management

Horses under his management have won sixteen graded stakes: Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Malibu Stakes (G1), Ogden Phipps (G1), Top Flight (G2), Goodwood Hcp (G2), Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2), Strub Stakes (G2), Woody Stephens Stakes (G2), Shuvee Hcp (G2), Bed o’ Roses (G2), Fitz Dixon Cotillion (G2), San Vicente Stakes (G2), Affirmed Hcp (G3), Berkeley Hcp (G3), Bay Shore (G3), and the Jersey Shore (G3).  

Racing stables that he has managed have had 20% wins from over 1000 starters and 25% wins in stakes races.