California freshman sire Calimonco represented by first winner

Ballena Vista Farm’s freshman sire Calimonco was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old filly My California scored a 9 1/ 4-length, gate-to-wire victory in a $57,035 maiden special weight at Santa Anita on June 16 in her second start. Her time for the 5 furlongs on a fast track was :58.06.

Bred in California by owner Mercedes Stables and trained by Robertino Diodoro, My California is the first foal from Give My Regards, a winning daughter of Smart Strike and half-sister to graded winner Broadway Empire and Grade 2-placed Cinderella’s Dream.

By Storm Cat out of Sweet Life, by Kris S., Calimonco won five of 35 starts while racing from ages 2 to 6 and earned $391,486. Bred by Pam and Martin Wygod and raced by the Wygods and Ballena Vista, he won the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar in 2011 and the Sidd Finch Stakes at Santa Anita in 2012. He was twice Grade 2-placed. Calimonco is a full brother to champion 2-year-old filly and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Sweet Catomine and to Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ winner Life Is Sweet.

Calimonco stands at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif., for a stud fee of $1,500. He has 28 foals in his first crop, and My California is his first starter.