A Legend in the Making Mira Loma Farm - California Thoroughbred ...
A Legend in the Making Mira Loma Farm - California Thoroughbred ...
A Legend in the Making Mira Loma Farm - California Thoroughbred ...
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y RUDIGROOTHEDDEPhotos by Ron MesarosPete Valenti would beproud. He would be veryproud of <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong><strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong><strong>Farm</strong> that he purchased <strong>in</strong>1977, is busy fur<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> dream he had of a “Little Calumet” <strong>in</strong> <strong>California</strong>. Whenhe unexpectedly left us <strong>in</strong> October of 1998, <strong>the</strong> torch waspassed to his family to both ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> and build upon <strong>the</strong> legacythat was his. And with Pete’s son Joe at <strong>the</strong> helm, <strong>the</strong>y havecerta<strong>in</strong>ly done a f<strong>in</strong>e job.The 100-plus acre farm currently boasts an equ<strong>in</strong>e populationof 339 horses that is expected to rise to around 400head as <strong>the</strong> breed<strong>in</strong>g season gets <strong>in</strong>to full sw<strong>in</strong>g. They offera complete array of services where horsemen can have <strong>the</strong>irmares bred and foaled, <strong>the</strong>ir weanl<strong>in</strong>gs and yearl<strong>in</strong>gs raised,and <strong>the</strong>ir 2-year-olds broken and tra<strong>in</strong>ed up to rac<strong>in</strong>g. Inaddition, <strong>the</strong> farm offers board<strong>in</strong>g and lay-up services aswell. The operation isalso very popularbecause of its closeproximity to <strong>the</strong>Sou<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>California</strong>racetracks, especiallyto Santa Anita whichis a mere 35 mileswest of <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong>.So, with its tastefulwhite fenc<strong>in</strong>g and red-trimmed barns, rem<strong>in</strong>iscent of <strong>the</strong>famous Blue Grass nursery that produced eight KentuckyDerby w<strong>in</strong>ners, <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong> <strong>Farm</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>uesto build on a proud history. The comb<strong>in</strong>ation of a loyal,experienced staff, facilities like <strong>the</strong> five-eighths of a miletra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g track and adjacent 124-stall barn, <strong>the</strong> stallion rosterthat numbers half a dozen impressive sires, and a large,quality broodmare band that enjoys life amongst a multitudeof huge paddocks, augurs well for <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong>’s futuresuccess. As Joe, who lives <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> house above <strong>the</strong> farm’soffices that he built for his fa<strong>the</strong>r, says “We breed to raceand, of course, to w<strong>in</strong>.”28 <strong>California</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>
MIRA LOMA Cont<strong>in</strong>uedTOGETHER FOREVERAno<strong>the</strong>r factor that has resulted <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> success of <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong>, are <strong>the</strong>loyal, dedicated and hard work<strong>in</strong>g peoplethat it has been able to keep on itsstaff over <strong>the</strong> years. Many of <strong>the</strong> 30 orso men and women who currentlywork at <strong>the</strong> farm have been <strong>the</strong>re for10 to 20 years and are not expected toleave any time soon, ei<strong>the</strong>r.The office manager is Lila <strong>Loma</strong>x,who has provided <strong>the</strong> Valenti familywith over a dozen years of <strong>in</strong>valuableservice, as she is a wealth of <strong>in</strong>formationto everyone who is <strong>in</strong> contactwith <strong>the</strong> farm.Miguel Lopez, or ‘Chico’ as he isbetter known, is <strong>the</strong> stallion managerand controls <strong>the</strong> breed<strong>in</strong>g side of <strong>Mira</strong><strong>Loma</strong>, from <strong>the</strong> stallions and broodmaresto <strong>the</strong> yearl<strong>in</strong>gs, weanl<strong>in</strong>gs andfoals. He is assisted by Steve Sage, andRay and Vito Valdov<strong>in</strong>os, while hisnight men, who are just as reliable andresponsible as <strong>the</strong> day crew, <strong>in</strong>clude hisbro<strong>the</strong>r Jose.Down at <strong>the</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g track, YolandaMart<strong>in</strong>ez is <strong>the</strong> manager, while <strong>the</strong> dailytra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> horses happens under <strong>the</strong>watchful eye of Jose Gutierrez. He hasfour riders at his beck and call, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gone who just works on break<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>young horses. The 124-stall barn is closeto full capacity more often than not, asMIRA LOMATHOROUGHBRED FARMFACT-FILE<strong>Farm</strong> Manager: Joe ValentiStallion Manager: Miguel ‘Chico’ LopezOffice Manager: Lila <strong>Loma</strong>xAddress: 12071 Bellegrave Avenue,<strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong>, Calif., 91752-1547Location: In Riverside County,approximately 35 miles east ofSanta Anita Park <strong>in</strong> Arcadia, Calif.Telephone: (909) 685-7524Fax: (909) 685-1996E-Mail: miralomafarms@prodigy.netStallions:Larry <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legend</strong> (Local Talent)Mr. Broad Blade (Broad Brush)Native Storm (Storm Bird)Olé (Danzig)Silver Ray (Silver Hawk)What a Spell (What Luck)Horses (Dec. 2001/Jan. 2002):Broodmares . . . . . . . . . . .96Stallions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62-Year-Olds . . . . . . . . . . . .63Yearl<strong>in</strong>gs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Lay-ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Horses <strong>in</strong> Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g . . . . . .60O<strong>the</strong>r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . .339tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g for ano<strong>the</strong>r two to threemonths, after which <strong>the</strong>y will hopefullybe ready to transfer to <strong>the</strong> racetrack.Joe and <strong>the</strong> rest of his familyunderstand <strong>the</strong> need to have happyand healthy members of staff, so <strong>the</strong>emphasis is to look after <strong>the</strong>m well.That <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>the</strong> provision of four<strong>in</strong>dividual houses and twobunkhouses for <strong>the</strong>m to comfortablylive <strong>in</strong> so that <strong>the</strong>y are available dayand night to look after <strong>the</strong> valuableequ<strong>in</strong>e residents of <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong><strong>Thoroughbred</strong> <strong>Farm</strong>.HOME ON THE RANGECraig Lewis Marilyn & Donald Baileyit is home to <strong>the</strong> runnersprepar<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> track. The <strong>in</strong>itialprocedure for 2-year-olds isto br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> for 45 days and<strong>the</strong>n turn <strong>the</strong>m out for two tothree months. X-rays are <strong>the</strong>next step and if <strong>the</strong>y show thatall <strong>the</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g parts are <strong>in</strong>order, <strong>the</strong> youngsters return toCheryl & Phillip FieldsWhile on <strong>the</strong> subject, mentionneeds be made of those <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>residents that make this farm happen.First and foremost is <strong>the</strong> stallion rosterthat <strong>in</strong>cludes six important studs,namely Larry <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legend</strong>, Mr. BroadBlade, Native Storm, Ole, Silver Rayand What a Spell.Larry <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legend</strong> ($2,500) is certa<strong>in</strong>lyaptly named for a <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong>stallion, as his own career was legendaryand he promises <strong>the</strong> same <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>breed<strong>in</strong>g shed. In fact, people still callabout him and just late last year, 18-year-old Lauren Morehead visited himbecause she wanted to see him beforeleav<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> U.S. Navy! The appearanceof <strong>the</strong> first runners from <strong>the</strong> 1995Santa Anita Derby w<strong>in</strong>ner are <strong>the</strong>reforeeagerly awaited this year.Mr. Broad Blade ($2,500)retired to stud late <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 2001season, so 2002 will be <strong>the</strong> firstfull season for this gradedstakes-placed stakes w<strong>in</strong>nerCont<strong>in</strong>ued on page 3230 <strong>California</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>
MIRA LOMA Cont<strong>in</strong>uedWhat a Spellmade of Donald and Marilyn Bailey, Phillip and CherylFields, and John and Montane Peri, all of <strong>the</strong>m old friendsof Pete Valenti go<strong>in</strong>g back to <strong>the</strong> farm’s beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs.For <strong>the</strong> upcom<strong>in</strong>g breed<strong>in</strong>g season, about 50 to 60 o<strong>the</strong>rmares are scheduled to ship <strong>in</strong> which will all add up toover 100 foals that will be born at <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong> this year,comparable to its 2001 numbers.Larry <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legend</strong> and Craig Lewis.who is by Broad Brush and comes forma female family filled with black-type.Then <strong>the</strong>re is Native Storm($1,000). By a multiple championand son of Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Dancer, this 7-year-old also has his first crop wait<strong>in</strong>gto debut <strong>in</strong> a few months time alsowhich should be able to run consider<strong>in</strong>gthat Storm Bird has alreadyproved to be a sire of sires (StormCat, Summer Squall, Bluebird, etc.)With progeny earn<strong>in</strong>gs approach<strong>in</strong>g$3.5 million and seven stakeshorses to his name, Olé ($2,500) is quietly establish<strong>in</strong>g himselfas one of <strong>the</strong> best value for money stallions <strong>in</strong> <strong>California</strong>.Out of champion Pr<strong>in</strong>cess Rooney, 17 w<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> 21 starts<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g five grade I’s, he has everyth<strong>in</strong>g go<strong>in</strong>g for him.Silver Ray’s ($1,000) claims to fame are that he wasa graded stakes w<strong>in</strong>ner of nearly $270,000 who now hasstarters earn<strong>in</strong>g an average of over $18,000. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,his sire Silver Hawk has been responsible for some60 stakes w<strong>in</strong>ners to date.The f<strong>in</strong>al mention goes to What a Spell ($1,000), whohas transferred his own abilities—graded stakes-placed multiplestakes w<strong>in</strong>ner of 10 races <strong>in</strong> six seasons at <strong>the</strong> track—on to many of his progeny so far, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> stakes w<strong>in</strong>nerand one of <strong>the</strong> farm’s broodmaresCris <strong>the</strong> Swimmer ($363,702).The farm also boasts a strong broodmareband of nearly 100 producers on<strong>the</strong> premises right now, with about 25of <strong>the</strong>m owned outright by <strong>the</strong> farm or<strong>in</strong> partnership with Robert Englekirkand Craig Lewis. These <strong>in</strong>clude qualitymares like All World, dam of <strong>the</strong> 2001C.E.R.F. Handicap w<strong>in</strong>ner Global.O<strong>the</strong>r significant clients of <strong>Mira</strong><strong>Loma</strong> are Jim Ford Inc., Rub<strong>in</strong> Brown,<strong>the</strong> aforesaid Lewis Cenicola and hiswife Donna, George O’Bryan, JerryMoss, Jeff Siegel, Alan Pribble andmany more. Mention also need to beTO INFINITY AND BEYONDThus, <strong>the</strong> future rema<strong>in</strong>s verybright for <strong>the</strong> Valenti family.Besides be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> pre-em<strong>in</strong>entnursery by far <strong>in</strong> its area, <strong>Mira</strong><strong>Loma</strong> is also a leader with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>state, so a visit to this impressivefacility, located near Interstate 15and <strong>the</strong> Pomona (60) Freeway, is atrip well worthwhile.Once <strong>the</strong>re, you will probably f<strong>in</strong>d Joe Valenti work<strong>in</strong>gat <strong>the</strong> farm while occasionally look<strong>in</strong>g northwards at <strong>the</strong>San Bernard<strong>in</strong>o mounta<strong>in</strong>s. The reason is simple. It is likelythat he is contemplat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> breed<strong>in</strong>g and rac<strong>in</strong>g glory thathis family’s <strong>Mira</strong> <strong>Loma</strong> (“view of <strong>the</strong> hills”) <strong>Thoroughbred</strong><strong>Farm</strong> promises to achieve <strong>in</strong> years to come.Mr. Broad Blade and Mike Mitchell.32 <strong>California</strong> <strong>Thoroughbred</strong>