First Foal Is A Filly For California-Based Grade 1 Winner Mo Forza

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San Miguel, California—Grade 1-winning millionaire Mo Forza, the highest earner by leading sire
Uncle Mo standing outside Kentucky, was represented by his firstborn foal on January 10: a filly out of
the multiple winner Californiasunshine who was foaled in California.


Owned by Alice Bamford, Californiasunshine was the first of 99 mares bred to the Rancho San Miguel
stallion in 2022. Her 2023 Mo Forza filly is the fourth offspring for the 10-year-old Lucky Pulpit mare,
whose first foal, Sweet California, was a Santa Anita Park winner at 2 last year.


“She is quite a character already, thrilling everyone with her looks,” Bamford said of the Mo Forza filly,
whom she owns with her co-breeder, Ann Eysenring. “In addition to being correct, she is a beautiful
mover and a very good reason for her mama to return to Mo Forza next year.”


Mo Forza won seven graded stakes races in Southern California from 2019 through 2021, highlighted by
the 2019 Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar. Produced by a daughter of perennial leading California sire
Unusual Heat, the 7-year-old stallion earned $1,034,460 from 15 starts overall as one of North
America’s top turf milers of his generation.


Owned by Kentucky-based industry leader Taylor Made Farm and San Diego horseman Onofrio
Pecoraro and backed by a large syndicate, Mo Forza entered stud last year as the most successful son of
champion juvenile and emerging sire-of-sires Uncle Mo on the West Coast. As such, he was strongly
supported by breeders in his inaugural season, during which he covered more mares than any other
California-based first-year stallion, and ranked second overall among all statewide stallions by number
of mares bred in 2022.


“We are so pleased and grateful for the outstanding support West Coast breeders have already shown to
Mo Forza,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “But more important than sheer quantity of
breedings is the quality of resulting foals. If this first baby of his is any indication, we are just saddling
up for what will surely be an incredible ride with this classy son of Uncle Mo.”
Mo Forza stands for a $9,000 fee in 2023, with live foal guarantee.


He will be available for inspection during Rancho San Miguel’s 2023 Open House & Stallion Show on
January 21. Reservations are encouraged for this upcoming, free event at (805) 467-3847 or
info@ranchosanmiguel.net.

Rancho San Miguel To Host Open House & Stallion Show On January 21

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San Miguel, California—Showcasing a robust stallion roster, a strong farm management team and a
new emphasis on sales preparation and consignment, California mainstay Rancho San Miguel invites
current and prospective Thoroughbred breeders, owners and enthusiasts to attend its 2023 Open House
& Stallion Show on Saturday, January 21. Participation is free in this casual event, which is
scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.


Attendees will be treated to a catered lunch, with fun giveaways and a stallion season raffle included in
the activities. There will also be opportunities to take a “sneak peek” at many of the mares, yearlings and
2-year-olds who will be consigned by Rancho San Miguel to the California Thoroughbred Breeders
Association’s 2023 Winter Mixed Sale, which will be held in Pomona on January 31.
Established in 2000, Rancho San Miguel is one of California’s largest and most customer-focused
Thoroughbred farms. Its 2023 stallion roster reflects this status, with options that have been carefully
curated to present a wide variety of pedigrees, performance abilities and price ranges to West Coast
mare owners.


There are seven graded stakes winners among the farm’s eight current stallions, including three of
California’s top 10 stallions by number of mares bred in 2022: Grade 1 winner and second-year stallion
Mo Forza, commercially popular Group 2 winner and proven sire Sir Prancealot (Ire) and multiple
Group 2 winner and 2022 leading statewide second-crop sire Danzing Candy.


Also on the roster are two-time Pacific Classic (G1) winner Richard’s Kid, Grade 1 winner Tom’s
Tribute, multiple Grade 2 winner Surf Cat, Grade 3 winner Northern Causeway and new addition
Editorial, a stakes-siring half-brother to leading sire Uncle Mo who recently relocated from Maryland.
“After a few challenging years without hosting large, in-person gatherings due to the worldwide
pandemic, we are excited to renew this time-honored tradition of opening our doors for the public to
visit our farm and see our horses,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “We hope California
breeders will take this opportunity to meet our outstanding farm manager, Jenny Webber, as well as our
dedicated and experienced team members, and to inspect our remarkable group of stallions in person. It
promises to be a fun and informative day for all who are able to attend.”


Reservations for the Open House & Stallion Show are encouraged by January 17. To RSVP, please
contact Rancho San Miguel at (805) 467-3847 or info@ranchosanmiguel.net.

Giver Not a Taker Becomes First Stakes Winner for Danzing Candy

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Danzing Candy

Things continue to heat up for Danzing Candy as Giver Not a Taker runs downs a determined frontrunner to win the 125k I’m Smokin Stakes in his 2nd start today at Del Mar to become his sire’s first stakes winner while running the 6 furlng in a quick 1:09 3/5 for owner/breeders J. Kirk & Judy Robison, trainer Peter Miller and jockey Jose Valdivia. Watch race HERE.

This completes the hot streak that started for Danzing Candy on August 14. Since that date he has had 5 Maiden Special Race winners including 3 at Del Mar; Giver Not a Taker on 8/14, Leya’s Candy on 8/28 and Mystic Flyer on 9/4. Visit the Danzing Candy stallion page for more details.

There are 13 Danzing Candy yearlings scheduled to sell in the September 27 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearling Sale in Pomona, California starting at 11 a.m.

Sir Prancealot colt tops WTBOA Yearling Sale

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Hip 80 2021 b.c., Sir Prancealot – Impeached, by Northern Afleet (Courtesy of Griffin Place LLC)

The first Northern American crop of Sir Prancealot (IRE) continues to make some noise as he tops his second consecutive West Coast yearling sale.

At the WTBOA Summer Yearling sale held on August 23rd at Emerald Downs, a colt out of Impeached (Hip 80, pictured above) sold by Griffin Place LLC, agent for breeders Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin, topped the sale when sold to PT Syndicate #1 for $80,000. This sale is the second highest priced yearling in the last 11 years sold at this sale.

There are 29 Sir Prancealot yearlings in the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Pomona next month on September 27. Will Sir Prancealot complete the West Coast Triple Crown of yearling sales toppers? Be there to find out.

Hip 80 leaving the ring after selling at 2022 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale

Sir Prancealot colt tops Northern California Sale.

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Hip 58, 2021 b.c., Sir Prancealot (IRE) – Root Bear Rag, by Union Rags

The yearling sales are upon us and, as expected, the first Northern American crop of Sir Prancealot (IRE) is making some noise.

At the CTBA Northern California Yearling sale yesterday, a colt out of Root Beer Rag (Hip 58, pictured above) sold by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, as agent for breeder Jeff Ganje, topped the sale when sold to Robert Jones for $50,000. A filly out of Frankly J’ray (Hip 9, pictured below) bred and sold by Checkmate Thoroughbreds brought the 3rd highest price when sold to Harris Farms for $40,000.

Expect more of the same at the WTBOA Sale August 23 at Emerald Downs in Washington and the Fasig-Tipton sale in Pomona next month on September 27.

Hip 9 2021 b.f., Sir Prancealot (IRE) – Frankly J’ray, by Frankel (GB)

Photos courtesy of Checkmate Thoroughbreds LLC.