Former trainer Wally Dollase dies at 78
Wallace Dollase, who trained the 1990s champions Itsallgreektome and Jewel Princess, died in Kentucky on Friday after a lengthy illness, according to his son, Craig Dollase.
Best known as Wally, Dollase was 78. He retired from training in late 2011.
Born in Fort Atkinson, Wis., Dollase had a background in the pharmaceutical industry before turning to Thoroughbreds. He initially ran Rancho Rio Vista Farm in California in the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Dollase moved to Los Angeles, where he launched his racing stable.
Within five years, Dollase had his first champion.
In 1987, Dollase had his first Kentucky Derby runner when the stakes winner Momentus finished 14th behind Alysheba. Three years later, Dollase nearly won his first Breeders’ Cup race when Itsallgreektome finished second to Royal Academy in the BC Mile at Belmont Park. Itsallgreektome was the champion turf male of 1990.
“Itsallgreektome put him on the map,” said Craig Dollase.
For the next two decades, Dollase’s stable rose in prominence. One of the finest runners of his career was Jewel Princess, who won the 1996 BC Distaff at Woodbine, the year she was named champion older female.
The following year, Dollase trained his best 3-year-old when Deputy Commander won the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs and Travers Stakes at Saratoga before finishing second to Skip Away in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Hollywood Park.
Dollase’s stable was based at Hollywood Park for years, and won such races there as the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup with Itsallgreektome in 1990 and Lazy Lode in 1998, and the Grade 1 Beverly Hills Handicap with Windsharp in 1997.
At Santa Anita, Dollase’s leading wins included consecutive Grade 1 victories by Jewel Princess in the Santa Maria and Santa Margarita handicaps in 1997, the Grade 1 Oak Tree Turf Championship with Military in 1998, and, more recently, the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes with A.P. Adventure in 2004.
At Del Mar, Dollase won 11 stakes, notably the San Clemente Handicap with Jewel Princess in 1995, and the Bayakoa and Chula Vista handicaps in 1998 with Sharp Cat.
His success was not limited to Southern California tracks. Sharp Cat, one of the leading females of the late 1990s, won two Grade 1 races for Dollase at Belmont Park in 1998 – the Beldame Stakes and Ruffian Handicap.
In the mid-2000s, Dollase changed his approach, training in Southern California in the winter, and in Kentucky and New York from the spring to late fall. In the winter of 2008-09, he began racing at Fair Grounds in the winter. Dollase retired from training in late 2011.
Dollase is survived his wife, Cincy, and four children – Aimee, Carrie, Craig, and Michelle.
Three of his children are active in racing, and assisted their father at various times in his career. Aimee Dollase is an assistant trainer to Tom Proctor. Craig has a public stable in Southern California. Michelle Dollase is a trainer at San Luis Rey Downs.
“He was my mentor,” Craig Dollase said.
Funeral arrangements are pending.