Former trainer Dutton dies at 87

Jerry Dutton, who owned, trained, and bred Thoroughbreds for more than 60 years in California, died on Thursday in Idaho, Del Mar publicity officials said on Friday. Dutton was 87.

Dutton retired from training in 2006 and moved from California to Idaho with his wife, Barbara.

Toward the end of his training career, Dutton trained such stakes winners as Zama Hummer, who won the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park in 1991; Don B’s Princess, the winner of the 1991 California Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita; and Starry Ice, who won four stakes in 1996, including the Grade 2 Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Born in Parma, Idaho, on Nov. 21, 1927, Dutton was around horses from a young age in Idaho and began his involvement in racing with Quarter Horses in the Pacific Northwest. He moved to California in the late 1940s, shifting to Thoroughbreds, and began training in 1958.

In the 1970s, Dutton trained such runners as Century’s Envoy, the champion California-bred 2-year-old of 1973 who won eight stakes in California from 1973-76. In 1974, Confederate Yankee finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby for Dutton, his only starter in the race. Confederate Yankee won the Thanksgiving Day Handicap at Bay Meadows and was second in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in 1974.

Dutton won four stakes at Del Mar, including the 1989 Fleet Treat Stakes with Linda Card. The following year, Linda Card won the inaugural California Cup Distaff on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

The Duttons were active breeders of California-breds, frequently keeping more than 20 mares. After the foals were born in California, they were raised at the couple’s ranch in Idaho before starting their careers in California. The horses were often owned in partnership and included such multiple stakes winners as Champ’s Star, Golden Ballet, and Starry Ice.

Dutton had his final stakes winner when Senor Fargo won the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar in 2004. His last winner was at Hollywood Park in November 2005, and his last starter was at that track in 2006.

In the last decade, Jerry and Barbara Dutton continued to own and breed horses, including Tales In Excess, the winner of the 2010 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita.

Services are pending.