August 1, 2008:
THREE DEL MAR WINNERS IN FIVE DAYS FOR BEAU GENIUS!

BEAU GENIUS began the Del Mar meeting with three winners in five days!

First up was 3-year-old maiden special weight winner One Chin Again, who score by nearly two lengths in the $54,600 six and one-half furlong Polytrack contest on July 20.

Sinnin and Grinnin came out the following day and 4-year-old filly dashed to a length and one-quarter win in a five furlong turf allowance with a purse of $60,200.

On the 25th, 4-year-old mare Carrie With A C came home a half-length best over six furlongs in six furlong, $43,299 contest over the Polytrack.

May 29, 2008:
Deputy Commander Update
We're pleased to report that Deputy Commander's overall health is much improved. He has gained back the weight that he lost while undergoing tests away from home, his coat is gleaming & his demeanor is positive. It is our expectation at this point in time that he will return to our breeding shed next season. We thank everyone for their kind thoughts and understanding regarding Deputy Commander this season. One Chin Again

March 13, 2008:
Due to an undiagnosed health issue, Ballena Vista Farm's stallion Deputy Commander has been removed from the breeding shed for the 2008 season. While not a life-threatening injury nor a contagious illness, the health issue is affecting his ability to effectively cover mares.

The onset of the problem over the past week prompted his admittance to the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital where he has been undergoing comprehensive testing and treatment. It is expected that he will return to the Farm no later than mid-March.

While it is possible that the stallion could recover from his health issue in a matter of days or weeks, for the well-being of the stallion and to give owners who have mares booked to the stallion ample time to amend their mares' breeding plans for the season, the Farm's management team decided to suspend Deputy Commander's breeding activities at this time for the duration of the 2008 season.

Owners who have mares booked to the stalliona may opt to transfer their booking fee and contract to another Ballena Vista Farm stallion, or they may request cancellation of their mare's contract to Deputy Commander and accept a refund of the booking fee. The Farm's management is in the process of completing the task of contacting all mare owners who have booked mares to the stallion this season.

January 10, 2008:
Ballena Vista Farm will be the featured cover story for the February edition of the California Thoroughbred magazine! The publication should be on newstands early next month!

November 21, 2007:
All our phones, fax, email, etc. has been completely restored and the repairs to the fencing are nearly complete.

November 21, 2007:
Ballena Vista Farm stallions SEA OF SECRETS, DEPUTY COMMANDER and BEAU GENIUS were all represented by six figure sellers at the recently completed Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky!

The California stakes winning SEA OF SECRETS mare MY MISS STORM CAT was purchased for $925,000 by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent IX, she is carrying her first foal to the cover of Unbridled's Song.

DEPUTY COMMANDER's multiple stakes winner PLAID was sold as a broodmare prospect for $250,000 to WinStar Farm LLC. A 13-time winner and earner of $523,317, the 6-year-old mare was consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent.

BEAU GENIUS' multiple stakes producing daughter GEN CORP PURPOSES was purchased by Peter Van Andel for $110,000. Consigned by Four Star Sales, Agent for Mike Walts, she was sold in foal to Stormy Atlantic.

November 8, 2007:
One of our three phone lines and our internet/email service has been restored as of today!! Our perimeter fencing is undergoing reconstruction and things are returning to normalcy here. We appeciate everyone's thoughts and concerns during this recent difficult time and continue to be thankful that all horses and humans are doing just fine!

October 30, 2007:
Ballena Vista Farm's normal activity continues and all is well for both human and equine, but our telephone and internet service continues to be out. Hopefully, the use of both will return soon!

October 26, 2007:
Ballena Vista Farm has come through the fire with no injuries to either horses or humans. Everyone (horses and people) is fine! The farm is returning to normal daily activity and is on schedule with the cleanup process. The entire Ballena Vista Farm staff is working full
shifts with your bloodstock health and well being their foremost chore. The farm is functioning and is going about the daily maintenance, exercise and treatments for your equine athletes. There is plenty of food and clean water for both humans and horses!

Thanks to all of you, our valued clients, for your many kind words and thoughts for our safety and well being.

Manuel and Vicki.

October 23, 2007:
FIRE UPDATE - HUMANS AND HORSES DOING FINE

Ballena Vista Farm has come through the fire, most importantly, with no injuries to either horses or humans. We are all fine! We have plenty of feed and water for both the horses and all of the farm personnel and farm operations are continuing through this difficult situation.

We did suffer the loss of a couple of stuctures on the farm, but, again, there were no injuries to any of our staff or the horses. Any remaining hot spots have been handled by our staff and the water truck is at the ready. There is no fire currently active on the farm and we continue to diligently monitor the situation twenty-four hours a day.

SEA OF SECRETS FILLY SETS SARATOGA RECORD!

SECRET GYPSY, the 2-year-old daughter of SEA OF SECRETS, broke the Saratoga track record for five and one-half furlongs in her racing debut on August 16.

SECRET GYPSY broke like a rocket and led the field through a blazing :21.70 opening quarter and a :44.59 half. Shaking off a challenge at the top of the stretch, she rebroke and bounded away, passing five furlongs in :56.71 and stopping the clock in the record 1:03.26. She finished more than six lengths in front in a dazzling performance!

SECRET GYPSY races for Richland Hills Stable and John Kuehl and she is trained by Ronny Werner. Bred in Kentucky by Norman Cheng, she is the first foal from the Rahy mare, Miss Utada

SPECIAL BOOKING OFFER FOR DEPUTY COMMANDER

Ballena Vista Farm has a special offer for California breeders! To the first 25 mares who are booked to Deputy Commander by September 1, 2007 we are offering a special fee of just $5,500! After that date, he fee will be $7,500. The fees include a $500 non-refundable booking fee with the remaining fee due on September 1, 2008.

BOOK NOW!! These specially priced seasons will go fast!!

A mixed bag of Derby sires

Courtesy of Daily Racing Form

By GLENYE CAIN OAKFORD
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Having a Kentucky Derby contender is the best kind of advertising for a stallion. It brings publicity that could translate into bigger - and potentially better - future books of mares. This year, the beneficiaries of that attention range from large, established operations such as WinStar, which stands the sires of three Derby hopefuls, to the smaller Ballena Vista Farm in California, home of Reporting for Duty's sire, Deputy Commander. All stand to reap real rewards if one of their stallion's runners should win the Derby trophy.

Not surprisingly, the list of sires with Derby contenders shows a tilt toward larger farms and horses with books of 100 mares or more. Together, the 20 sires represented on the Derby Watch list covered 2,353 mares in 2003 - the year these Derby horses were conceived - for an average book size of 118 mares. Fifteen of the stallions bred 100 or more mares that year, and only five - Pleasant Tap (60), Danzig (48), Cat Thief (90), Albert the Great (83), and Exchange Rate (53) - covered less than 100.

There is also a decided geographic tilt toward Kentucky, with just four stallions standing outside the Bluegrass State this year. Deputy Commander stands at Ballena Vista in California, while Exchange Rate, sire of Xchanger, stands at Padua Stables in Florida. Two others stand overseas. They are Storm in May's sire, Tiger Ridge, now located at Wilgerbosdrift Stud in South Africa, and Imawildandcrazyguy's sire, Wild Event, currently in Brazil after starting his career in Florida.

As of April 27, four farms - WinStar, Darley, Lane's End, and Coolmore Stud - held the lead by number of Derby potential runners sired by their stallions, with three each. WinStar's Distorted Humor, sire of 2003 winner Funny Cide from his first crop, is back in the hunt this year with Any Given Saturday and Cowtown Cat, both of whom WinStar races in partnership. Distorted Humor was part of the package when WinStar owners Ken Troutt and Bill Casner purchased the farm, previously known as Prestonwood. A 14-year-old Forty Niner horse, Distorted Humor is now a key part of WinStar's roster, standing for $225,000 this year.

The first major stallion WinStar recruited after purchasing the Prestonwood property in 2000 is the sire of another Derby candidate. Tiznow, two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, stands at WinStar as a joint venture with Taylor Made Stallions and is the sire of Liquidity and recent Lexington Stakes winner Slew's Tizzy. Tiznow stands for $25,000.

At Lane's End, Smart Strike alone accounts for two of three Derby starters sired by Lane's End stallions. He is the sire of undefeated Arkansas Derby winner Curlin and Sedgefield, runner-up this year in three stakes. Smart Strike, a Grade 1 winner himself, is a 15-year-old son of Mr. Prospector and stands for $75,000.

Lane's End's other stallion with a possible Derby starter is Pleasant Tap. Now age 20, Pleasant Tap already had one headline-grabbing runner earlier this spring when Premium Tap, a Grade 1 winner last season, finished second to Invasor in the Dubai World Cup. Pleasant Tap's son Tiago, a half-brother to 2005 Derby winner Giacomo, has now put his sire in the Derby picture. Pleasant Tap, by classic winner Pleasant Colony, stands for $15,000. Unlike many of the horses on the Derby sires' list, he got his Derby runners from a fairly modest book of 60 mares in 2003.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Darley operation, which has included the Kentucky farm Darley-at-Jonabell since 2001, also has staked out a prominent position on the Derby contenders' list after carefully building a world-class stallion roster for its international group of farms. Both Darley stallions with possible Derby starters stand at Jonabell in Lexington. The young sire Street Cry, by Machiavellian, launched his stud career with a bang when his first-crop runner Street Sense won the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and clinched the juvenile title. Street Sense is now Derby-bound after winning the Tampa Bay Derby and finishing a close second in the Blue Grass Stakes. Darley was impressed enough with him last year to buy his dam, Bedazzled. Street Cry stands for $50,000.

The other Darley stallion with runners on the road to Louisville is Cherokee Run, the champion sprinter of 1994. Darley got Cherokee Run, now 17, as part of its purchase of Jonabell. He looks well worth it at the moment, with both Chelokee and Zanjero among the Derby candidates. Cherokee Run, a son of Runaway Groom, stands this year for $40,000.

Darley's great rival Coolmore Stud also has three contenders by its sires. Like Darley, Coolmore has two by one of its younger stallions - 2001 juvenile champion Johannesburg. A son of Hennessy, Johannesburg is only 8 and has had an impressive year with his first-crop runners, now 3-year-olds. His Derby contenders are Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy and Southwest Stakes winner Teuflesberg. Another member of his first crop, Marcavelly, also stole some limelight with his win in the recent Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland. Johannesburg stands at Coolmore's Kentucky division, Ashford Stud, this year for a $65,000 fee.

Coolmore's own Derby winner, 1995 victor Thunder Gulch, also has a contender this year. That's Circular Quay, a homebred campaigned by close Coolmore associate Michael and Doreen Tabor; Michael Tabor also raced Thunder Gulch. Thunder Gulch, by Gulch, stands in 2007 for $30,000.

Hill 'n' Dale and Overbrook Farm, both well-known operations in central Kentucky, also have a pair of stallions represented in the Derby Watch list.

Hill 'n' Dale has aggressively expanded its stallion roster in the last decade and now has two young sires with possible Derby starters, El Corredor and Stormy Atlantic. El Corredor, a 10-year-old son of Mr. Greeley standing for $30,000, jumped onto the list when Dominican won the Blue Grass Stakes. The 13-year-old Storm Cat horse Stormy Atlantic, also standing for $30,000, got a boost from 2006 Grade 1 winner Stormello, runner-up in the Fountain of Youth.

Overbrook, home of Storm Cat, has been less aggressive in the stallion market than Hill 'n' Dale but has still ended up with two Derby candidates by a pair of its young horses. The farm, founded by the late W. T. Young, has hopes of "making" a homebred stallion to replace Storm Cat. Jump Start and Cat Thief could fit the bill. Jump Start, by A.P. Indy and out of a Storm Cat mare, stands for $20,000 and is the sire of Hutcheson runner-up Bold Start. At 8, he is showing promise for the continuation of Overbrook's homegrown stallion program. So is Cat Thief, winner of the 1999 BC Classic, who has Grade 1-placed Sam P. as a Derby contender. An 11-year-old son of Storm Cat, he stands for $7,500 and is one of the lowest-cost sires to have gotten a runner on the Derby Watch list.

Another relatively inexpensive stallion is Albert the Great, who also stands for $7,500 at Three Chimneys in Kentucky. A 10-year-old son of 1994 Derby winner Go for Gin, Albert the Great has one of the favorites for this year's Run for the Roses: Nobiz like Shobiz, who has already has recouped owner and breeder Elizabeth Valando's stud-fee investment many times over with his wins in the Holy Bull and Wood Memorial that have helped him earn $804,900.

Ballena Vista's Deputy Commander also stands for $7,500. His son Reporting for Duty, second in the Illinois Derby, was conceived while the Deputy Minister horse was standing at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. The stallion, now 13, relocated to California last year.

In addition to Three Chimneys and Ballena Vista, six other farms have a single sire with a potential Derby starter on the Derby Watch list. Juddmonte in Kentucky stands Aptitude ($20,000), sire of Great Hunter. Adena Springs Kentucky is home to Cobalt Blue's sire Golden Missile ($10,000). Padua Stables in Florida - whose owners, Satish and Anne Sanan, are partners in Derby hopefuls Curlin and Any Given Saturday - stands the sire Exchange Rate ($10,000), whose son Xchanger is a possible Derby starter. In South Africa, Mary Slack's Wilgerbosdrift Stud can celebrate if Tiger Ridge's representative, Storm in May, takes the roses. Tiger Ridge stood for $7,500 at Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds before his sale in 2006. And the Brazilian operation Haras Santa Maria de Araras has a stake in the race, too. It stands Wild Event, sire of Imawildandcrazyguy.

Not all the sires with candidates on the Derby Watch list are youngsters, though youth seems to be dominant. One old-guard stallion, now dead, is receiving perhaps his last classic hurrah. Danzig, the famously successful Claiborne sire who died in 2006, is represented by Lane's End and LeComte Stakes winner Hard Spun.

Sea of Secrets Colt Sets Santa Anita Record

Courtesy of Thoroughbred Showcase

The first career start of Sea of Pleasure could hardly have been better.

The 2-year-old son of Sea of Secrets, favored Thursday in the first race of his life, broke on top and stayed there to the finish, not only winning by four lengths but setting a new Santa Anita track record for two furlongs.

His final time of 20.78 seconds broke the track record of 21.09 seconds set in 2004 by Muqtarib's son Whatsthenameman.

Sea of Pleasure is the first starter and first winner from Sea of Secrets' present crop of 2-year-olds. Last year he was California's leading sire of juvenile winners, with 26.

Bred in Illinois by Valerie Blethen, Sea of Pleasure is owned by Burnett, Burnett, DeJulio et al and trained by Shane Chipman. He was ridden by Michael Baze.

Sea of Secrets, a graded stakes-winning son of Storm Cat, is the sire of 107 winners and earners of more than $5,600,000. His first California foals will reach racing age in 2009. He stands at Ballena Vista Farm, Ramona, Calif.-March 31.

Deputy Commander Greets 32nd Stakes Horse  

Courtesy of Thoroughbred Showcase

Deputy Commander added the 32nd name to his long list of stakes horses Saturday at the Fair Grounds when lightly-raced young Mayor Bozarth finished second in the $100,000 Grindstone Stakes after leading from the start.

The 3-year-old colt took the lead out of the gate and stayed in front to the final stage of the 1 1 /16-mile race when he was overtaken while resisting to the end under urging by jockey Joseph Talamo.

It was the sixth career start for Mayor Bozarth, who finished fourth last month in the Mardi Gras Stakes at the Fair Grounds in his first venture into added-money competition.

In those six starts, he's finished worse than fourth only in his first outing. His record now shows two wins, two seconds and a fourth in his last five starts. He's earned $78,770 for the Amerman Racing Stables.

Mayor Bozarth was bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton and is trained by Robert Frankel.

Deputy Commander, a Grade 1 stakes winner of $1,906,640, has sired 15 stakes winners and 17 stakes-placed winners in addition to two foreign champions. He stands at Ballena Vista Farm, Ramona, Calif.--March 26.

Another Stakes Horse for Deputy Commander

Just two starts from running against maidens, No Reply became DEPUTY COMMANDER's latest stakes horse on February 12 with a challenging second-place finish in the $100,000 Ocala Breeders' Sale Championship Stakes at the Ocala Training Center.

The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred captured a maiden special weight race at Aqueduct on December 1 by a resounding 8 1/2 lengths and moved immediately into stakes company, finishing fourth in the Count Fleet Stakes at the New York track, only 2 1/2 lengths back of the winner.

The Ocala race was his next start, and he made a strong charge in the stretch under jockey Joe Bravo, moving from fifth place in the field of 10 to battle for the lead. But he couldn't overtake the winner and finished a length and a half behind.

In six lifetime starts, No Reply has earned $63,231 with one win, two seconds, and a third.
No Reply, bred by Brereton C. Jones, is owned by Darley Stable and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

DEPUTY COMMANDER, a double Grade 1 stakes winner of $1,906,640, is the sire of earners of almost $16,000,000.

A Third Graded Placing for Red Raymond

2/01/07
Goodbye, Barbaro –

All of us in the Thoroughbred industry are experiencing the emotions of grief and sadness at the outcome of Barbaro's heroic fight. At the same time, we also marvel at the utter selflessness of his connections and the equally heroic measures that were utilized by Barbaro's brilliant surgeon, Dr. Richardson, and his staff, which resulted in their literally changing the faces of thoroughbred horseracing and equine veterinary medicine.

Barbaro's gallant struggle, and the efforts of his owners and doctors, make us proud to be members of the family that is thoroughbred breeding and racing.

Thank you, Barbaro, for showing everyone the best this industry has to offer. You were loved by all of us. We will never forget you.

1/13/07

To Our Valued Clients, Trainers & Vanners,

Due to the recent outbreaks of the EHV-1 virus, we must increase our attention regarding the health and well-being of all horses on this Farm. To that end, beginning immediately, we will require that you impart to us as much information as possible about the condition/whereabouts/etc. of a horse when sending it to us, whether for rehab, lay-up, breeding, foaling or training.

From trainers, when you notify us that you are shipping us a horse, we will want to know exactly where the horse has been located/stabled and for approximately how long, whether the horse has had administered a negative EHV-1 test (when, where and by whom), and whether you have ANY knowledge of the horse being POTENTIALLY exposed to the virus at your location or any previous location.

From vanners, when you notify us that you are bringing us a horse, we will want to know exactly where the horse has been located/stabled and for approximately how long, whether you have picked up or dropped off other horses prior to vanning the subject horse (and from which location/farm/stable/track), what protocol you have utilized to ensure the sanitary environment of your equipment, and if you have ANY knowledge of the horse being POTENTIALLY exposed to the virus at the pick-up location or any previous location.

If there is ANY potential that the horse shipping in to us has been exposed, it will be solely at the discretion of the Farm Manager as to whether or not we are able to accept the horse, and if accepted, whether it will be segregated on arrival from the general horse population until such time as the EHV-1 test is administered and returned negative, or until the two week incubation period has expired.

We certainly do not want to cause any undue inconvenience to anyone, however at this particular point in time it behooves all industry personnel to take every precaution possible to ensure that the EHV-1 virus is controlled.

We thank all of you for your cooperation.

Regards,

BALLENA VISTA FARM

Deputy Commander an ambitious import

"They weren't actually trying to sell the stallion," Cohn recalled earlier this month, but Deputy Commander "wasn't being marketed by Jones."

A deal ensued and Deputy Commander was sold and arrived at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif., earlier this year. He joins Beau Genius and Sea of Secrets on the farm's stallion roster.

"It's hard to pry the top stallions out of Kentucky," Cohn said, referring to Deputy Commander. "They don't want to let them go. We were looking for a high-caliber, established sire."

Cohn is hoping that Deputy Commander can have a quick impact in California.

Deputy Commander is having an outstanding year at stud, with more than $3 million in progeny earnings through mid-December. He gives California breeders a rare shot to breed to the winner of the prestigious Travers Stakes.

Deputy Commander, a 12-year-old son of Deputy Minister-Anka Germania, by Malinowski, will stand for $10,500. He will be one of only a few stallions in California standing for $10,000 or more.

Cohn does not envision Deputy Commander attracting a large book of mares, at least not by national standards.

"We thought that his breeding will fit California well, and there is room for him here," he said. "We think 60 mares is a reasonable number. We think there will be interest for him."

Deputy Commander won 4 of 13 starts and $1,906,640 in a two-year career in 1997-98. Trained by Wally Dollase, Deputy Commander had his best season at 3, winning the Grade 1 Travers, Grade 1 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, and Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park.

In addition, he finished second to Skip Away in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Hollywood Park.

Aside from being by top stallion Deputy Minister, Deputy Commander has an outstanding female line. Anka Germania was a brilliant turf mare in the late 1980's, when she was a multiple graded stakes winner. One of the highlights of her career was a win against males in the 1988 Sword Dancer Handicap.

At stud, Deputy Commander is the rare Travers winner to sire a Travers winner, Ten Most Wanted, who won the race in 2003. He is also the sire of the Japanese multiple stakes winner and millionaire Grab Your Heart.

This year, Deputy Commander has had six stakes winners. Among them are Deputy Glitters, winner of the Ohio Derby, and Roman Commander, winner of the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park in November. Roman Commander finished third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 16.

Ballena Vista "breeds to sell," Cohn said. In 2006, Deputy Commander's yearlings averaged $41,881 at sale, or four times his $10,000 stud fee.

"He seems to put out some very correct horses," Cohn said. "He's having a helluva year."

BALLENA VISTA FARM HAS HELPED TO MAKE SAN DIEGO A PRIME THOROUGHBRED SOURCE

By Hank Wesch
(photo by Crissy Pascual of Donald Cohn, Manuel Ochoa and our stallions)
Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune

November 1, 2006

The first word in Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships is breeders.

That's because nomination fees paid by breeders for stallions and newborn foals to secure eligibility for the event provided the seed money when the sport's grandest day in North America was conceived in the early 1980s. Such fees continue to provide major funding as horse racing prepares to stage the 23rd edition of its $20 million judgment day of divisional titles Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville , Ky.

And when it comes to the breeding side of the thoroughbred industry, a case can be made that San Diego County is to California what Bourbon and Fayette counties, which bracket Lexington and contain many of the most renowned breeding farms in the Blue Grass State, are to Kentucky .

Five major breeding farms combine to occupy hundreds of acres in the rural areas of this expansive county, sitting in pastoral splendor only an hour's drive or so from the heart of San Diego.

Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona has been the San Diego beacon of the industry for more than two decades. The farm founded by the late John Mabee and his wife, Betty – now directed by Betty and her son, Larry – produced and raced standouts Best Pal, General Challenge and Excellent Meeting during the 1990s.

Those runners all went on to compete in Breeders' Cup races, Excellent Meeting producing the highest finish, a runner-up in the 1998 Juvenile Fillies, and contributed to Golden Eagle winning Eclipse awards as the outstanding breeders in North America in 1991, '97 and '98. The farm has been honored as California 's best numerous times.

In recent years, the Vessels Stallion Farm in the small North County town of Bonsall has earned national notice with both thoroughbred and quarter horse major race winners sired by resident stallions In Excess and First Down Dash. In Excess ran in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile and is a two-time leading sire in California whose progeny includes 2003 Filly & Mare Turf and 2004 Mile starter Musical Chimes.

Now, Ballena Vista Farm, virtually across Highway 67 from Golden Eagle on Old Julian Highway in Ramona, is making a bid to escape the shadow of its better-known neighbor under a bold plan of growth and expansion by owners Donald and Karen Cohn.

Donald Cohn has, in the past two years, purchased and imported formerly Kentucky-based stallions Sea of Secrets and Deputy Commander. Interest will be high at Ballena Vista on Saturday in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile when Principle Secret, a Kentucky-bred son of Sea of Secrets owned by San Diegan Charles Cono, will be among the top contenders in a race that figures to determine the 2-year-old champion of 2006.

Cohn came to San Diego in 1961 and spent the first 20 years in real estate development, primarily in North County . In 1980, he founded a company to provide real estate information on the Internet. An enterprise begun to cover San Diego County expanded to encompass nearly 90 percent of the country before being sold to an even bigger Internet real estate company.

In 1982 the Cohns bought 92 acres of ranch property established in the mid-1800s as a cattle farm that had been owned by the area-pioneering Sawday family since before the turn of the century.

 “We were looking for some sort of backcountry life; I really didn't buy it to develop,” Cohn said. “It just sort of happened.”

Cohn grew up around horses, went to the track from high school age onward and once harbored aspirations of becoming a veterinarian.

“But I always had in the back in my mind the idea of owning a horse farm,” Cohn said. “It's the old idea of 'Be careful what you wish for.' ”

Clearing the land, which had been allowed to lie fallow for years and was covered with oak trees, was the first order of business. Raising Ballena Vista to its present status has been a slow process.

“Remember the movie 'Field of Dreams' ?” Cohn asked. “When I built this place, I figured if I build it they will come. But they didn't come. You have to have more than the facility. You need the people, and the horses. It takes some time, and I got some bad advice and made some mistakes at first.

“But now I'm certainly proud of what it has become. The three stallions we have, I think would stack up favorably with any farm in California .”

Going over the stallion roster, Cohn says: “Beau Genius is a very established, older stallion and he puts out some very hard-knocking racehorses. Sea of Secrets is a young stallion who shows as much promise as any in California and is being recognized now. We spent months of negotiation getting Deputy Commander out of Kentucky and he's going to have a major impact in California .”

Sea of Secrets and Deputy Commander will be booked to about 70 mares apiece starting in February. Foals will arrive the following year and come of racing age in 2010.

“It (breeding) is the side of the business I enjoy,” Cohn said. “Maybe if Del Mar ran 10 months a year I could see myself spending some more cash out there.”

After 20 years getting established, Cohn said he's still in for the long run.

“Racing is having its economic problems and looking to find itself,” Cohn conceded. “But I have confidence that horse racing isn't going to go away. I have no regrets. I love this place. The goal is to have the best horse farm and produce the best horses. We have a lot of land still to develop and we're just going slowly with it. We could have gone much faster than we have.”

Regarding the big farm across the road, Cohn said:

“John Mabee did a fabulous job building Golden Eagle and they continue to do a great job there. Compared to them, we're kind of a boutique.”

And regarding escaping the Golden Eagle shadow?

“I think we already have,” Cohn said.

DEPUTY COMMANDER ARRIVES AT BALLENA VISTA FARM

DEPUTY COMMANDER (Deputy Minister - Anka Germania (Ire), Malinowski), a Kentucky-bred multiple Grade 1 winning stallion has been privately purchased by Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, California, where he will stand the upcoming 2007 breeding season for a fee of $10,500.

DEPUTY COMMANDER reeled off victories in the Travers Stakes (G1), the Super Derby (G1) and the Affirmed Handicap (G3). In addition he finished second in the Swaps Stakes (G2) and then capped off his three-year-old campaign with a second place finish to Skip Away in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

DEPUTY COMMANDER amassed earnings of $1,906,640 in his thirteen race career, and retired as Deputy Minister's leading money earner.

DEPUTY COMMANDER has sired 29 stakes performers led by Grade 1 millionaire Ten Most Wanted who followed his sire's lead by winning both the Travers (G1) and the Super Derby (G2). He is also the sire of millionaire Grab Your Heart, Belmont Park course-record-setter Golden Commander, Ohio Derby (G2) winner Deputy Glitters and recent Barretts Juvenile Stakes winner Roman Commander.

DEPUTY COMMANDER boasts four consecutive years with progeny earnings in excess of $3.1 million; his upcoming crops include half-siblings to GSW's Jostle, Pollard's Vision, Sir Shackleton and Mayo on the Side.

DEPUTY COMMANDER, out of Grade 1 winner and near millionaire Anka Germania (Ire), does well mated with Mr. Prospector line mares as well as with the Bold Ruler line from precocious families.

California breeders who seek to upgrade their program are encouraged to contact Ballena Vista Farm to secure an early 2007 booking to this proven stallion by sire of sires Deputy Minister. Click Here to see photos of his arrival!

SEA OF SECRETS COLT IMPRESSES IN GRADE 2 BEST PAL AT DEL MAR

Undefeated PRINCIPLE SECRET firmly established himself as a major contender for 2-year-old honors with a dominating three-length victory in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes, a Grade 2 event on August 13 at Del Mar.

The son of SEA OF SECRETS had launched his career three weeks earlier with a 4 3/4-length victory in a maiden special weight race at the seaside track, and he followed that impressively by becoming a graded stakes winner in only his second start.

In those two starts, PRINCIPLE SECRET has earned $121,800 for his owner, Charles Cono LLC.

PRINCIPLE SECRET almost dropped to his knees at the start of the Best Pal and raced wide all the way to the turn, where he was three deep heading for home in the 6 1/2-furlong race. But when the field straightened away in the stretch, jockey Alex Solis took him quickly to the lead. He drew clear "under a tap of the whip" and sailed to the wire under "steady handling."

He was bred in Kentucky by Victory Racing LLC and is trained by Christopher Paasch.

Trainer Paasch indicated will head for New York and a start in the Grade 1 Belmont Futurity on September 23. "We're trying not to be hard on them," Paasch said. "We want to develop 3-year-olds. The Del Mar Futurity might be a little quick back for PRINCIPLE SECRET."

PRINCIPLE SECRET is the 12th stakes horse sired by SEA OF SECRETS and the second 2006 California stakes winner, joining the wickedly fast filly MY MISS STORM CAT. SEA OF SECRETS is a Top Five Nationally ranked Sire of Two-year-olds! (Benoit photos)

SEA OF SECRETS: A TOP 2-YEAR-OLD SIRE!

Keeping up his torrid pace, SEA OF SECRETS through Aug 4 has SEVEN two-year-old winners, ranking him SECOND in California and TOP TEN NATIONALLY!!!

Through July 2, 2006, SEA OF SECRETS is the number two sire of 2-year-olds in California by money won, winners and is in the top ten in average earnings per runner. To view the complete lists of leading sires, click here

SEA OF SECRETS: WINNERS, WINNERS AND SALES SUCCESSES

Quite a busy three days for SEA OF SECRETS May 20 - 22. Our graded stakes winning son of STORM CAT had four winners in two days and had three juveniles sell on the first day of the Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic Two-Year Olds in Training Sale and the trio all exceeded the median price and averaged nearly 15 TIMES his stud fee!!!

The winners began with May 20 when 3-year-old filly THEKATCAMEHOME tooking the feature race at Prairie Meadows, a one mile allowance by over three lengths. On the same day, 3-year-old gelding STORM'S RISEN broke his maiden over one mile by nearly three lengths at Turf Paradise. On May 21, SEA OF SECRETS had two maiden special weight winners! NEREUS, a 2-year-old gelding, smashed the field by eight lengths at Arlington Park going four and one-half furlongs and 3-year-old gelding SUCCESSFUL SECRETS was nearly six lengths best over six furlongs at Finger Lakes.

The action moved to the juvenile sale on May 22, where his three juveniles sold for $58,000, $52,000 and $42,000 respectively, for an average of just over $50,000. All three well exceeded the $30,000 median price for the entire sale.

SEA OF SECRETS continues to prove his stud fee of $3,500 is one of the finest values for any stallion standing in California!

THREE WINNERS FOR SEA OF SECRETS MARCH 24-26

DIAMOND FURY, a multiple winner who commanded the record-breaking price of $2.7 million at the Barretts 2003 Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, followed up several consecutive bullet works to post his third career win, this one on 3/24 at Santa Anita Park in a NW2X 6f race at odds of almost 13-1. The former sale-topper, a Bob Baffert trainee and a half-brother to stakes winner Friendly Spirit ($107K), dueled clear and held game when challenged to prevail over the odds-on favorite by a head. The winner also has four other on-the-board finishes, and is expected to step up in company in his next outing.

MY RED SEA became his young sire's second winner of the day (3/24) as he sprinted to an off-the-pace maiden victory at Evangeline Downs. Ignored at the betting windows and off at odds of almost 16-1, the winner was always in contention and got up late to break his maiden after four other on-the-board finishes. He is a graduate of the 2004 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Two-Year-Old Spring Mixed Sale.

MY MISS STORM CAT ('01 dkb/br filly o/o Urmia, by Meadowlake) returned to the races after a short absence to capture a NW2X 6f race at Santa Anita Park on 3/26, making his win the third of the weekend for BVF's new sire! The G3-placed filly, a graduate of the 2003 Keeneland September Sale, upped her record to 5-3-0-1, and posted a time that was just a second off the track record. Also trained by Baffert, the filly should also move up in class in her next race based on her current form. Owner: Ed Friendly. Breeder: Bob Austin in KY.

NORMAN'S DAUGHTER NEW OWNER OF BEAU'S TOWN
Courtesy of Daily Racing Form
by Mary Rampellini
BEAU'S TOWN, the 8-year-old gelding who was retired earlier this week, is one year older than his new owner. Dave Hulkewicz, who raced the Grade 2 winner, has given Beau's Town to trainer Cole Norman's 7-year-old daughter, Cheyenne. BEAU'S TOWN gave Norman his most important career win when he captured the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in 2003. In all, he won 13 of 23 starts and $697,850.

"He's been good to me and my whole family," said Norman. "A lot of things have happened because of that horse. He's opened doors for me."

BEAU'S TOWN was retired after he did not come out of a recent work to Norman's satisfaction. A sonogram was performed, and he was found to have a "tiny, little minute tear in his tendon," said Hulkewicz. It was not career-threatening, but his connections decided the time was right to retire him.

"He was a special animal, and he deserves the retirement," said Hulkewicz. "I liked seeing him end his career the way he did, with a win in the King Cotton."

The King Cotton was one of BEAU'S TOWN'S nine stakes wins, which also included the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn. But he fired arguably the best race of his career in the Bing Crosby, when he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 116.

"The race at Del Mar put him on the national map," said Hulkewicz. "In one of the pools he was the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint."

BEAU'S TOWN was sent to the Grade 3 Phoenix at Keeneland for his final prep for the Breeders' Cup, but stumbled out of the gate and after the race was found to have a small bone chip in an ankle. It was removed, and he returned to action in 2004 and won two stakes, including the $75,000 Ford Express at Lone Star Park, in which he covered six furlongs in 1:07.89.

BEAU'S TOWN'S last two races came this year, when he finished second by a neck in the $250,000 Duncan F. Kenner Breeders' Cup at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs, then won the $50,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn on Feb. 4. He will spend a few days at Louisiana Downs, where he will begin to be let down, then will head to the farm, said Norman.

"Cheyenne's got his stall ready for him," he said. "She'll be able to feed him carrots and peppermints every day."

DAVID CASSIDY BUYS SON OF SEA OF SECRETS
Entertainer David Cassidy, well known for his teen idol days and more recently as the star of numerous stage shows both in Las Vegas and in New York, purchased a 2-year-old colt by SEA OF SECRETS at the 2006 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Named JUDGE JOE, the colt has been broken and is in training. Produced by the Colony Light mare, Colonial Joy, he is a half-brother to a winner.

NEW ALAN PORTER MATINGS ANALYSES
Ballena Vista Farm is excited to announce a new service we're providing to breeders! Noted pedigree consultant and author Alan Porter has produced a Matings Analysis for BEAU GENIUS and SEA OF SECRETS. The analyses can be viewed on each stallion's section of our website. CLICK HERE to view the analysis for BEAU GENIUS. CLICK HERE to view the analysis for SEA OF SECRETS.

SURACHAI AND STAGE COLONY RELOCATE TO KENTUCKY
Edmond and Sharon Hudon, owners of stallions SURACHAI and STAGE COLONY, have announced plans to relocate their stallions to Buck Pond Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, beginning with the 2006 breeding season.

The long time California breeders are the owners of Sierra Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where they board and breed over 30 of their own mares. The relocation of their stallions will allow them to be more conveniently located to the mares and will nearly complete the relocation of all except one of the Hudon's horses to the Bluegrass for breeding, training and racing.

SURACHAI and STAGE COLONY have stood the past two seasons at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, CA. "We are sorry to say good-bye to these fine stallions, but understand the reasons for their relocation and certainly wish them and the Hudons the very best in their new Kentucky home", said Manuel Ochoa, Farm Manager at Ballena Vista.

BEAU GENUIS FILLY TOP SELLER AT BARRETTS OCTOBER YEARLING SALE!

A daughter of BEAU GENIUS was the top selling filly at the 2005 Barretts October Yearling Sale! Cataloged as Hip 251 and consigned to the sale by Woodbridge Farm, Agent, the chestnut miss was purchased by trainer Howard Zucker on behalf of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny for $105,000. Penny attended the sale with his girlfriend, ALyssa Milano, who stars on the WB network series, Charmed.

“I just listened to my trainer because I don’t know enough about it,” Penny told the Thoroughbred Times, who is a partner in three horses in training with Zucker. “I really enjoy it, but all these horses look the same to me. It took him a while. He went to Keeneland for me and didn’t find anything. He’s been real patient, and I trust him. I’ve always loved racing, but I didn’t buy anything until this year. I went to Calder a lot when I was in Florida [with the Florida Marlins] and now I’m getting into it out here.”

The filly is the second foal from the winning Synastry mare, Sassy Synner, who is a full or half sister to six stakes horses, including TAKIN IT DEEP, the multiple stakes winning son of BEAU GENIUS.
Photo by Ron Mesaros. CLICK HERE to see large photo of the filly.

SEA OF SECRETS TO BALLENA VISTA FARM!!!

SEA OF SECRETS (Storm Cat - Love from Mom, Mr. Prospector), a Kentucky-bred Grade 2 winning stallion has been privately purchased by Ballena Vista Farm, where he will stand the upcoming 2006 breeding season for a fee of $3,500.

SEA OF SECRETS is the only Grade 2 winner by Storm Cat standing in California; the ten-year-old stallion has bred an average of 84 mares over the past three seasons at Walmac Farm LLC in Lexington. From three crops to race he has sired three stakes winners and five stakes placers, including My Miss Storm Cat, a recent allowance winner at Del Mar.

SEA OF SECRETS was a winner in his first three starts at two and three, including the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. He is a half-brother to three Grade 3 stakes winners, including Love That Jazz, the stakes winning dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Society Selection.

Two-year-olds from his first and second crops are averaging $151,972 in the sales ring, including a $2,700,000 then-world record purchase at the 2003 Barretts March Select Sale.

Out of an outstanding producing daughter of Mr. Prospector, SEA OF SECRETS is an ideal cross with a mare from virtually any branch of the Mr. Prospector sire line. The Seattle Slew strain also has shown a strong affinity for the Mr. Prospector line.

California breeders who seek to upgrade their program are encouraged to contact Ballena Vista Farm to secure an early booking to their outstanding new stallion by perennial leading sire Storm Cat.

2006 STUD FEES FOR BALLENA VISTA FARM STALLIONS

Ballena Vista Farm has announced new stud fees for the 2006 breeding season for two of their stallions! The fee for Beau Genius has been set at $6,000-LF and the fee for Surachai will now be $2,000-LF. (Stage Colony will remain at $1,000.) Booking fees are $750 for Beau Genius and $350 each for Stage Colony and Surachai, with the remaining fee due on September 1st of the year bred. These new, very affordable fees should give breeders the opportunity to upgrade their program at a very fair expense. In addition, discounts for early bookings will be considered. Please call Vicki or Manuel for details!

FIGHTING FIT: 1979-2005

Ballena Vista Farm is saddened to report the passing of their pensioned stallion, FIGHTING FIT.

The 26-year-old multiple graded stakes winning millionaire was euthanized on August 10, 2005, due to the infirmities of old age. He had spent the last two years in retirement at the Farm since being pensioned after the 2003 breeding season. He was buried at Ballena Vista.

"Although still eager for his daily treats, severe arthritis and other age-related maladies were greatly compromising his quality of life," said Manuel Ochoa, Farm Manager. "We will certainly miss him, but we always want to do what's best for our horses, so the difficult decision was made to euthanize him."

By Full Pocket out of the multiple winner and stakes producing mare Napalm, by *Nilo, FIGHTING FIT went to the post an amazing 49 times in his four year race career. He is the owner of 14 wins, including six stakes wins, three of them graded, including the Mervyn LeRoy and Native Diver Handicaps. FIGHTING FIT'S nine stakes place finishes include a third place effort in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Sprint as a five-year-old.

At stud he was the sire of more than twenty stakes horses including graded winners Fighting Fantasy and Lady Sonata, amassing total progeny earnings more than $10 million.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations are in order to former BVF clients Guillermo and Lynn Obligado! With Guillermo aboard, their dark bay or brown warmblood gelding "Carlson" finished third out of 27 entrants in the $100,000 HBO Grand Prix National Horse Show at Del Mar. Carlson spent time at the Farm utilizing our aquatreds as part of his conditioning program along with one of the Obligado's other showhorses. BVF encourages owners of non-thoroughbreds to make an appointment to visit us to see how our facilities might benefit their horses.

BALLENA VISTA FARM WORKING WITH VET-STEM

Ballena Vista Farm has been chosen by Vet Stem as an approved rehabilitation facility for horses recovering from their Stem Cell Therapy. Below is the announcement from Dr. Bob Harman, DVM, MPVM, Chief Executive Officer of Vet-Stem Regenerative Veterinary Medicine in Poway. Below his statement are links to Vet-Stem's brochure (in Adobe PDF format).

"Ballena Vista Farm has been chosen and approved as a rehabilitation facility for horses after Vet-Stem's Stem Cell Therapy. Rehab is critical for the proper healing and signaling of the stem cells to become appropriate repair tissue. Ballena Vista has a proven track record of carefully supervised rehab of injured horses. I have even placed a personal horse there for rehab after her Stem Cell Therapy, and she is ready to hit the track in superb condition. Manuel Ochoa and his crew are excellent and they have all the tools - aquatred, equiciser, round pen and a track." - Dr. Bob Harman

Vet-Stem Brochure      Page 1    Page 2

BEAU GENIUS PROFILED IN CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED

BEAU GENIUS is profiled in a wonderful article by author Robert Knolhoff Jr. in the November 2004 issue of the California Thoroughbred magazine. CLICK HERE to read the article, complete with photos, courtesy of the CTBA. The article is in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat to view. To download a copy if you do not have one, go to Adobe.com.

MARE IN FOAL TO BEAU GENIUS TOPS BARRETTS SESSION

FLYING LESSON, an 8-year-old daughter of Flying Continental in foal to BEAU GENIUS on a March 29 cover was the highest-priced horse of the second and final session of the 2004 Barretts October Mixed Sale. Purchased by J. Paul Reddam from the consignment of Havens Bloodstock Agency, Inc., Agent for the Estate of Max R.Walters, the multiple stakesplace mare brought $60,000. She also has a 2-year-old colt sired by BEAU GENIUS.

BALLENA VISTA FARM PROFILED IN DAILY RACING FORM

Ballena Vista Farm was profiled last year in the Daily Racing Form. To read the article written by Glenye Cain, CLICK HERE

INTERESTING FEATURES ON THE WEBSITE

Video clips of BEAU GENIUS, more comprehensive stallion statistics, a hypothetical foal mating form and expanded progeny results are a few of the interesting features on our website!

The video clips are part of the Thoroughbred Times 2006 Stallion Directory. Click on any stallion's name to view their pages and clips.

BEAU GENIUS
SEA OF SECRETS

The Hypothetical Foal Mating features a four through nine generation pedigree, dosage information, printable pedigrees and more.

Check out the weekly automated progeny updates. This gives you the 1,2,3 finishes of the stallion’s progeny, track raced, company kept, etc., and it sorts five different way so that you can find the information that is most important to you.

Click Here to view the progeny updates for BEAU GENIUS

Click Here to view the progeny updates for SEA OF SECRETS

These are a few of the additions we have made. Check back soon. There is more to come!

NOT JUST FOR THOROUGHBREDS

While most of the horses on the Farm are Thoroughbreds, we also provide an opportunity for other breeds to utilize our state-of-the-art facilities for lay-ups, treadmill conditioning and rehabilitation. Recently the Farm welcomed two warmblood equestrian Olympians who utilized the aquatreds as part of their pre-Olympic conditioning training. Four standardbreds recently spent relaxing vacations from their harness racing efforts in our fully irrigated grass pastures. Visitors are welcome at the Farm to come out and take a look at our facility and speak with our trained personnel about how we can meet the needs of your horses.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

If you have a question; service request, comment or compliment, we encourage any correspondence you may have for us! Just send us an mail at info@ballenavistafarm.com and we will be sure and get back to you.

  

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