Despite downsizing, Harris Farms continues to influence California racing
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Even with a reduced presence in California Thoroughbred breeding in the last year, Harris Farms continues to have a significant influence on racing in the state.
Last Friday at Del Mar, He’s a Knockout, owned and bred by Harris Farms and trained by Carla Gaines, won his first stakes in the $152,500 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old sprinters. A day later, Harris Farms’s veteran gelding On the Whim won the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf for trainer Dean Pederson.
Next month, the farm will have a consignment at the Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale. Last September, Harris Farms sold two of the 10 most expensive hips of the auction.
At the Del Mar summer meeting, however, the focus is on racing. Harris Farms is a nose away from having three stakes wins in the first three weeks of the season. Cant Sleep was beaten by that margin in the $107,500 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf on July 25.
He’s a Knockout led throughout the Real Good Deal Stakes at seven furlongs and won by a head over the New York shipper Party Animal. He’s a Knockout has won 3 of 4 starts.
“I’ve been impressed with him,” said Harris Farms chief executive officer Darren Filkins.
“When he hit the ground running last fall there was no surprise there. He’s come back stronger and stronger. Carla has got him so fit.
“He tries so hard every time. He gets a good start and can be competitive.”
Even in defeat two starts ago, He’s a Knockout was game. He set the pace after a troubled start in the $127,000 Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 23 and faded to finish fifth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths.
Because his three wins have been against statebreds, He’s a Knockout remains eligible for a first-condition allowance race against open company.
While He’s a Knockout is at the start of his career, On the Whim is a veteran. The California Dreamin’ Stakes was his fifth win in his 17th start since his debut in the fall of 2023.
Ridden by Tiago Pereira in the California Dreamin’, On the Whim set the pace and won by a head over Old Pal.
“Tiago made a decision to take the lead,” Filkins said. “No other horses were jumping out front. It was impressive to take the lead and keep it to the end.
“He proved something. He has an awful lot of try in him.”
In 2024, On the Whim won two stakes – the California Dreamin’ and the California Flag Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita that October. Saturday’s win ended a seven-race losing streak since the California Flag.
On the Whim had a career-high eight starts in 2024, but only two in 2025. The California Dreamin’ Stakes was his fifth start this year.
This year, Harris Farms has had 31 horses make 89 starts, primarily at Del Mar and Santa Anita. The group includes Start the Ride, who won the $175,500 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in January, finished second in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby against open company on June 27, and was fourth in the Real Good Deal Stakes.
The farm has also had runners at Emerald Downs, at the Los Alamitos summer meeting, and at Turf Paradise. Overall, the stable has a combined 14 wins with earnings of $994,337 through Saturday.
The farm is unlikely to have that many runners in upcoming seasons, a setback for the entirety of California racing and breeding.
Following the death of farm patriarch John Harris in July 2025, the central California-based farm had a reduction of bloodstock holdings in a digital sale last August. The stallions that stood at the farm in Coalinga, Calif. were dispersed to other locations.
Going forward, Harris Farms has a group of 2-year-olds in-training that will be sent to the track in coming weeks and months.
“Most of our 2-year-olds will start at the Santa Anita meeting,” Filkins said, in reference to the track’s fall season.
“It’s been a year since John‘s passing,” Filkins continued. “There have been a lot of tough decisions. Hopefully everyone can see the commitment and the success with limited numbers.”
The farm will retain approximately 20 broodmares, according to general manager Jonny Hilvers. The figure is considerably lower than the size of the herd when Harris ran the operation.
Some mares have been moved to Kentucky, including Style Award, the dam of He’s a Knockout. Style Award is in foal to Golden Pal, according to Harris Farms general manager Jonny Hilvers.
“We have about 20 broodmares that we’re keeping,” Hilvers said. “We bred seven mares in Kentucky.
“We will plan to keep maybe half of those and sell half as yearlings.”
Hilvers projects that the farm will have “about 12 or 15” 2-year-olds to race in 2027.
This will be a quieter week at Del Mar for Harris Farms. Their next runner is Dr. Filkins in a $50,000 claimer for maidens on Saturday.
Hilvers, for one, hopes to be at Del Mar that day, or in the near future. Getting away from central California for a few days sounds like a good idea in early August.
“It’s only 106” degrees, he said on Saturday. “We can’t wait to get to Del Mar.”
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