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Alfred Pais: Homebred Brickyard Ride Embarks On A Stallion Career

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(Originally published in the March 2026 issue of “California Thoroughbred” magazine)

Horse racing has given Alfred “Sonny” Pais the ride of a lifetime.

Pais (pronounced Paze) made his money through income property investment, but horses were always where his heart is. That’s been true from the time he was a young man out of high school in the 1970s and helped train harness racers for his father, to the present day as a breeder of Thoroughbreds.

Beginning in the 1990s, Pais has had several successful California homebreds. His best has been the blazingly quick Brickyard Ride, a multiple graded stakes victor who won 13 of 31 races and earned $925,477. Retired from the track in 2024, the former sprinter is on a journey that is far from over, as Pais embarks on a stallion career for the statuesque chestnut son of Clubhouse Ride. Brickyard Ride is the all-time leading earner for his sire.

“I’m a senior citizen on the hustle,” remarked the loquacious Pais, now 72. Always a small breeder, he has grown his broodmare base to 12 as he looks to support Brickyard Ride, standing his second season at Rancho San Miguel in San Luis Obispo County. Pais wishes he could do more, but his resources are limited. As it is, he figures he could possess upwards of 40 horses by the time the stallion’s newest foals arrive this year.

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CLICK HERE to view the rest of the story at ctba.com

CLICK HERE to view the entire March 2026 issue of “California Thoroughbred” magazine

First Foal For Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Brickyard Ride Is A California-Bred Filly

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San Miguel, California—Multiple graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride, the leading lifetime earner for the Candy Ride (Arg) stallion Clubhouse Ride, was represented by his first foal on January 24: a filly born at Rancho San Miguel in California.

Bred by Jerry Engelauf, the youngster is the fourth foal out of the winning mare To the Limits, an 11-year-old daughter of Swiss Yodeler.

“I am very impressed by the quality of this first foal by Brickyard Ride,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark, whose San Luis Obispo County farm stands the 9-year-old stallion. “Her sire exhibited great class, speed and longevity on the extremely tough Southern California racing circuit, and this smart-looking filly is an excellent early representative of those strengths.”

Racing as a homebred for Alfred “Sonny” Pais, Brickyard Ride won or placed in 21 of 31 starts and compiled a career bankroll of $925,477 while competing from ages 2 through 7. Eight of his 13 victories were recorded in black-type races conducted on dirt and turf, including Santa Anita Park’s 2021 San Carlos Stakes (G2) and back-to-back editions of the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) in 2022 and 2023.

Brickyard Ride covered an inaugural book of 44 mares in 2025. His 2026 fee is $4,000, accompanied by a live foal guarantee.

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Optimism, Camaraderie Mark Rancho San Miguel’s 2025 Open House & Stallion Show

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San Miguel, California—Positive vibes and perfect California winter weather greeted more than 70 attendees during Rancho San Miguel’s 2025 Open House & Stallion Show on December 6.

The four-hour event marked the San Luis Obispo County farm’s third time to open its doors to Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and enthusiasts over the past three years.

This year’s guests were treated to warm hospitality, in addition to unseasonably warm temperatures. The farm’s iconic stallion barn was decorated for the holidays, with festive wreaths on the stall doors and horse-themed gifts handed out to lucky raffle winners. Complimentary food and networking opportunities added to the merriment, along with an informative presentation from farm feed provider Purina Mills. Approximately two dozen horses bound for Rancho San Miguel’s consignment to the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s 2026 Winter Mixed Sale on January 20 also were available for early viewing.

Highlighting the activities was the popular stallion parade, which was emceed by farm owner Tom Clark. Each member of the farm’s 13-strong stallion roster was paraded for guests, accompanied by narration describing their individual achievements. This year’s line-up featured returning stallions Bolden, Brickyard Ride, Cyclotron, Editorial, Mo Forza, Northern Causeway, Richard’s Kid, Sir Prancealot (Ire) and The Street Fighter, as well as newcomers Collected, Eight Rings, Niagara Falls and Uptown Rythem.

The event received optimistic feedback across the board from attendees.

“My husband and I have attended Rancho San Miguel’s Open House since the very first one two years ago, and it keeps on getting better each and every time with new additions to their stallion roster, such as Collected,” said California-based breeder Daniela Ochoa. “He is a stunning individual, and we are looking forward to breeding two of our mares to him next breeding season.”

Video footage from the hour-long Stallion Show is available on Rancho San Miguel’s Facebook page.

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California’s New Top Sire Collected To Be Introduced At Rancho San Miguel Open House & Stallion Show On December 6

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San Miguel, California—The West Coast introduction of Grade 1 winner and nationally ranked fourth-crop sire Collected will highlight Rancho San Miguel’s 2025 Open House & Stallion Show on Saturday, December 6, a free event which will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All regional Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and enthusiasts are invited to attend.

Collected recently arrived at the San Luis Obispo County farm from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, which is partnering with Rancho San Miguel and prominent California breeder / owner Marsha Naify to stand the 12-year-old son of City Zip for a $7,500 fee in 2026.

From his first four crops to race, the 2017 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner and $2,975,500-earner has sired 20 stakes winners, including seven graded stakes winners, with cumulative progeny earnings of more than $18 million. He enters the California stallion ranks as the state’s new and dominant leading sire, with 2025 progeny earnings of $6.4 million to date.

Making his Rancho San Miguel debut alongside Collected at the upcoming showcase is Grade 1 winner Eight Rings, whose highly regarded first foals will be 2-year-olds in 2026.

Promising young stallions Bolden, Brickyard Ride and The Street Fighter and veteran sires Cyclotron, Editorial, Mo Forza, Niagara Falls, Northern Causeway, Sir Prancealot (Ire) and Uptown Rythem also will be paraded, accompanied by narrations detailing their achievements.

Participants will be treated to a catered lunch, as well as opportunities for giveaways, door prizes and stallion season raffles. The farm also will offer several horses of mixed age for inspection and sale, including broodmares, weanlings and yearlings.

“This year, we are especially proud and excited to open our doors to members of the California breeding and racing community,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “We plan on having some old-fashioned holiday fun while showcasing our diverse group of stallions and sharing our enthusiasm for the future of our state’s industry at this crucial point in time.”

Reservations for the event are being accepted at (805) 467-3847 and teri.ransanmig@gmail.com.

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Rancho San Miguel To Host Open House & Stallion Show On New Fall Date: November 16

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San Miguel, California—A new autumn date and an expanded stallion roster will greet attendees at Rancho San Miguel’s Open House & Stallion Show on Saturday, November 16. Current and prospective Thoroughbred owners and breeders are invited to participate in the free program, which will be hosted from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The San Luis Obispo County farm, which will commemorate its 25th anniversary as one of California’s most respected Thoroughbred breeding centers in 2025, will open the gates to its 250-acre site for the second time this year. Similar events were hosted in January 2023 and January 2024, prior to those respective breeding seasons.

“By moving our Open House earlier on the calendar to November, well ahead of the upcoming breeding season, we’re hoping to give regional mare owners a helpful headstart on making their all-important breeding decisions for 2025,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “As part of that effort, we’re also proud to introduce two new stellar stallion choices to our line-up for breeders.”

New to the Rancho San Miguel roster for the 2025 breeding season are multiple graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride, by leading California sire Clubhouse Ride, and the black-type runner The Street Fighter, by Street Boss. Each will be available for inspection during the Open House.

Also parading in the Stallion Show will be veteran sires Danzing Candy, Editorial, Northern Causeway, Richard’s Kid, Sir Prancealot (Ire) and Surf Cat, 2024 newcomer Bolden and the widely popular third-year stallion Mo Forza, the latter of whom led all California-based stallions by number of mares bred in 2023 and 2024.

Open House 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 for participants to view several yearlings and horses of mixed age currently available for private purchase, and to network with other horse owners.

To RSVP for Rancho San Miguel’s Open House & Stallion Show, please contact Teri Capaldi at (805) 467-3847 or by email by November 13.

We hope to see you there!

Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Brickyard Ride To Initiate Stallion Career At Rancho San Miguel

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San Miguel, California—Multiple graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride, a speedy, near-millionaire from the prolific Candy Ride (Arg) sire line, will launch his stallion duties in 2025 at Rancho San Miguel in California. He is available for inspection at the San Luis Obispo County farm, where he will stand for an introductory fee of $4,000, with live foal guarantee.

Bred and campaigned in California by Alfred (“Sonny”) Pais, Brickyard Ride won or placed in 21 of 31 starts and compiled a career bankroll of $925,477. Eight of his 13 victories were recorded in black-type races at Santa Anita Park: seven on the main track and one on turf.

Topping his résumé are the 2021 San Carlos Stakes (G2) and back-to-back editions of the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) in 2022 and 2023. His five additional stakes scores include two runnings of the California Cup Sprint Stakes, as well as the grassy Sensational Star Stakes.

Gifted with natural, early speed, Brickyard Ride set the pace in 27 of his 31 races and attained 17 triple-digit Equibase Speed Figures. He won from the distances of 5 1/2 furlongs to one mile, and ran exclusively in stakes company for the final 16 races of his career.

“He had wicked speed, and he stuck around for a long time,” said trainer Craig Lewis, who conditioned Brickyard Ride from the ages of 2 through 7. “He was a very, very talented horse who loved to train, and he loved the competition, just like his daddy.”

Brickyard Ride is the top earner for Candy Ride’s dual Grade 2-winning son Clubhouse Ride, who also was trained by Lewis. Now a leading stallion in California, Clubhouse Ride ranks first among all statewide sires in 2024 by graded stakes winners, black-type horses and turf earnings.

Candy Ride’s other prominent sons at stud include 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, Twirling Candy and Vekoma, the latter of whom currently ranks #2 among all first-crop sires in North America by 2024 progeny earnings.

Produced by the multiple winner Brickyard Helen, by three-time Grade 1 winner Southern Image, Brickyard Ride is a pedigree outcross through his first five generations. He will stand as the property of Pais, who is committed to supporting the incoming stallion with quality mares.

“We are blessed to have such a talented athlete join our stallion roster,” said Rancho San Miguel Owner Tom Clark. “As has been observed by many smart horsemen over the years, you cannot coach speed.”

For more information about this exciting, young stallion, please visit Stallion Register Online.

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