Top Five Christmas Eve Activities of Team O’Neill

     5. Go to church and pray for a winner or two on opening day (why is everyone saying
         watch for lightning?).
     4. Last minute Christmas shopping (does the local liquor store have gift cards?).
     3. Crack out the elastic waistband sweatpants (mainly for comfort, nothing to do with
         a turkey, honey baked ham and variety of desserts that we most likely will
         consume).
     2. Hunker down and watch some pro football (I wish grandma would stop throwing the
         dinner rolls like Aaron Rodgers).
     1. Try to figure out a way to explain to the people we forgot to get gifts for that we
         thought they were Jewish (sorry Mom).

Top Five Ways to Save Money When Purchasing a Christmas Tree

     5. Convert to Judaism until the first of the year.
     4. Win a wager at Hollywood Park and pick a tree up at a good price in the
         parking lot.
     3. Drive around any street in Temple City and pick up one of the fallen trees
         from the side of the road.
     2. Get a cheap coat hanger from the Salvation Army and put a bunch of green
         sweaters on it.
     1. Convince the tree lot manager that you are from the Department of
         Agriculture and their trees are deemed unsafe, then offer to remove the one
         that you want.

Top Five Reasons Hollywood Park Went to Friday Afternoons Instead of Friday Nights

     5. Can you say, “I can’t feel my fingers,” kinda cold?
     4. Now you have time to take all your winnings and hit up the local malls to buy a little
         “Bling Bling” for your loved ones.
     3. The horses are more alert at 12:30pm than they are at 10:30pm.
     2. Afternoon racing suits the tag of,” The Home of the Lakes and Flowers” better than
         the evening tag of, “ The Home of the Flakes and Crawlers.”
     1. When you are in gridlock it is easier to handicap.

Top Five Reasons That Liberal Arts Finally Got It Done

     5. Two words… Joel Rosario.
     4. Three words… Never Win Two.
     3. Four words… Mark Verge didn’t bet.
     2. Five words… Santa answered Russ Sarno’s wish.
     1. One word… AChristmasMiracle.

Top Five Things Learned by Willyconker’s Win Yesterday

     5. Keep Dave Kenney’s silks in the jocks room (Steve Rothblum wrote that).
     4. Bejarano fits him like a glove (not funny but true).
     3. The horse loves Inglewood.
     2. He is fast on grass (as opposed to most people on grass).
     1. If you singled him in the late pick 4, for 50 cents you could have easily taken home
         1800 bucks (man... that could buy a lot of hair dye).

Top Five Reasons Mother Nature Blew Down Team O’Neill’s Santa Anita Barn

     5. She thought the horses would look better in a new modern barn.
     4. She was bored.
     3. She wanted team O’Neill to stay over in Inglewood for an extended period of time
         (over here she is called Mutha Nacha).
     2. She thought Steve Rothblum’s PT cruiser was on fire.
     1. She was play wrestling with old St. Nick and his cologne made her sneeze.

Top Five Reasons to Go Black Friday Shopping

     5. It’s a good excuse to buy a bunch of things you don’t need (but its sooo cheap)!

     4. You can save money so you can gamble more at the races.

     3. You can finally put the tent you bought at last year’s black Friday event to use
          by camping out in front of your favorite stores.

     2. Instead of paying Pay-Per-View to see a fight, go to your local Wal-Mart and
          pretty much in every isle there is a punch-up going on (don’t even try to go toe
          to toe with Dennis O’Neill over the last wife-beater tank top).

     1. Sales end at noon so you can still make Hollywood Park’s first post at 12:30pm.

Top Five Reasons to Love Thanksgiving

     5. There are back to back football games all day long.

     4. Hollywood Park’s first post is at 11am.

     3. You can eat as much as your horse and not feel guilty about it.

     2. The Detroit Lions play at 10am today but first post is still at 11am… how lucky
         are we?

     1. Steve Rothblum isn’t at your house.

So Close to Hitting the Jackpot at Delta Downs

     The O’Neill clan’s adventure paid off dividends with a big third place finish by Matto Mondo in the Delta Mile and a huge second place finish by Basmati in the one million dollar, Delta Jackpot. Owned by Paul Reddam, this two year old son of Borrego proved he does not need to be close to the pace to run an outstanding race. With a good break from the gate, it wasn’t a 16^th of a mile before a speed duel began and Nakatani took Basmati back to a nice and relaxed sixth place. At the half mile pole he started his run to hit the front at the 3/16^ths pole and go on only to be caught inside the 1/8^th pole. He then continued on gamely to run to the wire and finish second, picking up a nice check for $200K. Congratulations to all the connections; roll on the first Saturday in May.

Veterans Day

This holiday, formerly known as Armistice Day, has been an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans since 1938. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11 every year. The day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Each year The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. Take a minute today to thank someone who has served for our country and keep them as well as the memory of those we have lost to war in our thoughts.

Top Five Reasons to be Excited for Opening Day at Hollywood Park

     5. We get to enjoy the enthusiasm of George O (the director of Hollywood Park’s
         marketing)

     4. Steel Pulse is only 24 hours away.

     3. No lines for the betting windows or concession stands (my brother Dennis might be
         in line at the ATM)

     2. It’s 55 Plus Discount Day (can you say cougars?)

     1. Hollywood Park is where the movie “And They’re Off” was filmed.

Top Five Reasons to Get Fired Up for Closing Day at Santa Anita

     5. At the end of the meet, tomorrow, we start tied for the training meet at Hollywood.

     4. On closing day there is a big giveaway where the track gives away everything they

         haven’t gotten rid of throughout the meet.

     3. There are mandatory payouts this afternoon for all exotic wagers (including the

          Pick 6).

     2. Last chance to hear the race caller, John Lies (replacement for Breeders’ Cup
         caller, Trevor Denman).

     1. Team O’Neill will be at the races; what could be more fun than that?

The Breeders’ Cup

Since the inaugural running at Hollywood Park 27 years ago, the Breeders' Cup has established itself as the season-ending championship of thoroughbred racing. Through the years, the Breeders’ Cup has grown from a 7-race, $10 million day, to a 15- race, $26 million extravaganza, held over two days, and encompassing almost every division of the sport. The purses for the Championship races are funded by worldwide nomination from the industry’s thoroughbred breeders. This year horses were able to earn automatic starting positions into Championships races through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, a series of 68 stakes races held worldwide.

Top Five California Based Horses with a Chance to Win a Breeders Cup Race

     5. Game On Dude in the Classic (Go Chantal! Make us proud girl!)

     4. Weemissfrankie or Self Preservation in the Juvenile Fillies (Team Reddam and

         Team Cosato are going head to head in this ultra competitive race. Can you say

         dead heat?)

     3. Euroears in the Breeders Cup Sprint (This Baffert trainee has more than wowed us

         here at Santa Anita in the mornings; but he wants no part of Square Eddie or 
         Streakin’ Mohican)

     2. Creative Cause in the Juvenile (watched him two-minute lick on Monday at

         Hollywood Park, he looks formidable!)

     1. Turbulent Descent in Filly and Mare Sprint (should be one of the shorter prices on

         the day and for good reason.)

2011 Cal Cup

This Saturday is the equivalent to the Breeders Cup for anyone involved in racehorses bred in the state of California. There are a few horses that are participating that were debating whether or not to run here or in next weeks Breeders Cup. One of them, Unzip Me, Team O’Neill is going to make wish she went back east to the Breeders Cup by beating her with California Nectar. It should be an exciting day of racing. I hope you can all make it out and bring some friends along for fun at the track and to pay tribute to all the farm owners, breeders, trainers, grooms and everyone else who make California horseracing what it is.

Team O’Neill’s New Claimer, Shy Humor-

Shy Humor is a two year old son of Sharp Humor he lead most of the way yesterday and just got a little bit tired the last sixteenth of mile. Paul and Zillah Reddam put up the $75K plus tax to claim him and we are all very happy with him back at our barn. We look forward to him breaking his maiden over at Hollywood Park and going up the ladder from there. 

Premiere Night for “And They’re Off”

Not that long ago I was approached by a big time moviemaker (ok maybe this is the first movie he has ever done) and was asked some questions about my daily life as a trainer. He kept saying to me, “God you remind me a lot of Dusty.” Little did I know, the character he was referring to is a struggling horse trainer, whose loved ones are trying to convince him to change careers. Though the director passed me over for the part of Dusty and instead gave it to Sean Astin, he did let me have a couple lines; hopefully, I didn’t end up on the editing room floor. The premiere is tonight in Hollywood; I’m pulling my prom tux out of the mothballs and will be sitting in the front row with my popcorn and slushie.  

Robert Master’s Farm

Robert has campaigned stakes horses such as, Score With Cater and Bench The Judge to name a couple. He has just recently purchased and refurbished some acreage in the beautiful Big Bear area and he has begun to design a half-mile track on the property. Though we are never looking to see our horses to the farm to get laid up, keep Robert’s place in mind when that time arises. I have one of my own horses laid up there and have been very happy with the care and communication. Good luck on your new endeavor, Robert.

The Final Couple Weeks of Santa Anita Fall Meet (formerly known as Oak Tree)

It was good to read that business at the current meet is up from the last couple years. As we look around and see so many other things going sideways or downwards, it is nice to see a little up tick in our local horseracing business. Chris Quinn, the head of it seems like just about everything here at Santa Anita, continues to implement and think of new ways of getting people out at the races. If you have and suggestions, let me know and I will let him know. Lastly, Chris has designed a Suite in the Clubhouse section and we are hoping to have that for an upcoming day, before the end of the meet, to hold a little “thank you” barn party. Hope to see you all soon. 

Clocker’s Corner @ Santa Anita

It would be difficult to find a more picturesque and relaxing setting than Clocker’s Corner every weekend morning. It is a great chance to grab a halfway decent breakfast and watch the beautiful horses train. The cast of characters you can mingle with is large- from Jimmy The Hat to Gary Stevens to some of the actors who will appear on the new HBO series, “Luck.” With only a few weekends left before shifting over to Inglewood, see if you can fit it in your schedule to come out and join us for the morning workouts. Great times!

Shooting for the Oak Tree Derby

This afternoon, in the 9^th and featured race of the day will be the 1 1/8^th mile turf event known as the Oak Tree Derby. It is a Grade 2 event and Team O’Neill is proudly represented by California homebred, Thirtyfirststreet, who is ridden by future hall of famer, Patrick Valenzuela. Though he has shown speed in the past, the intent today is to win from off the pace. Here we go?

Team O’Neill Giving Back

     Yesterday, due to having an easy morning in the Team O’Neill Barn, Doug left early to visit the Mattel Children’s Hospital.

     

     Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA ranks among the world's elite institutions for pediatric research, teaching and care. Serving more than 6,000 inpatients and 100,000 outpatients annually, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA offers a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care for infants, children and adolescents. Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA is a vital part of the new Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which continues to be ranked as "Best in the West" by U.S.News & World Report's annual survey of America's hospitals.

  

   Even though Team O’Neill isn’t tearing up the Winner’s Circle at the moment, we do have the ability to turn this around; some people aren’t so lucky. Let’s be thankful for every day we get and especially if those are days that we can spend time with our friends, family and HORSES.

Today In The O'Neill Barn

Scantily Clad is training great- 3/4^ths in  1:12.1 hopefully there will be a race for her soon.

Today at Santa Anita we have two runners, Race 3- WalkingOnaDream and Race 6- Octogarian. They both have good chances. Let's have a winning day.           

Selection Of Jockeys

     Selection of Jockeys- On a daily basis we enter a handful of horses on the Southern California circuit but trying to find the perfect rider who fits our horse is not always easy to do. Because the guys who are on the top of the standings are in high demand, if we wait too long to decide where we are going, we have less of a chance of getting their services. At the same time, some of the top rider’s agents are known to commit early and “spin” you late on day of entry; this happens when they feel like they can ride a better horse. Luckily, here in Southern California we have 5-10 world-class jockeys and a handful of up and coming stars. However, the next time you pick up an overnight and see “so and so” on your horse… he/she may not have been the first choice.

Square Eddie

It is an exciting weekend for Team O'Neill. Our horse Square Eddie is running in The $500,000 Donn Handicap this Saturday! After taking a year off he is coming back strong, in fact he set a new track record of 1:13:11 on January 14 at Santa Anita Park. Although he is going to be a long shot in this Stakes race, we believe that he is going to be quite a contender. Team O'Neill has a lot of confidence in Eddie's abilities. Go Square Eddie!!!!