I never pay attention to the odds.”įriday's card is topped by the $2 million Juvenile, whose winner is tabbed as the horse to watch heading into next year's Kentucky Derby.
His wife and stablehand, Isabel, said, “We always come to win. “I have lots of confidence in my horse,” Leonard said. Pizza Bianca, owned and bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, is the early 5-1 favorite in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.Ĭalifornia Angel, at 8-1 odds, drew the far outside post in the field of 14.
“I always feel I never work a day in my life when I do what I enjoy.” “You got to love it because there’s plenty other things you can do to make a lot more money,” he said of his chosen profession. Unlike most of the high-profile trainers and deep-pocketed owners at the Breeders' Cup, Leonard stocks his stalls with claimers, horses he buys out of races featuring modest purses. The son of a trainer, he struck out in 1991 and opened his own stable. “We think we don’t really know her full potential yet.”Ĭalifornia Angel charged from 12th place to win the Grade 2 Jessamine last month at Keeneland, Leonard's first time in a graded stakes race, the sport's highest level of competition. “I have the best horse I’ve ever touched,” he said.
Her name was inspired by her sire as well as Leonard's habit of calling the filly “Angel.” Walsh has already turned down several offers to buy California Angel, a daughter of 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome. Owner Chris Walsh is from Columbus, Indiana. Indiana Grand is supporting its hometown filly by offering the first 200 fans in attendance on Friday a $20 win wager on her. “I realize it's phenomenal even being here," said Leonard, a Louisiana native who has a 19-horse stable. Her trainer, George Leonard III, is believed to be the first Black conditioner with a horse in the Breeders’ Cup.Ĭalifornia Angel, by way of Indiana, takes on 13 rivals in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, one of five races Friday that kick off Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar, the seaside track north of San Diego. She earned her way into the world championships with a late-running victory at 17-1 odds. The 2-year-old filly cost just $5,500, a drop in the bucket compared to her blue-blooded rivals. (AP) - California Angel has already beaten the odds before she even runs in the Breeders’ Cup.
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