Idiot Proof joins Ballena Vista's 2010 roster

Idiot Proof, a millionaire who set two track records on opposite sides of the country in 2007, has been retired from racing and will stand at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif., in 2010, the farm announced earlier this week.

Idiot Proof ended his career with 5 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $1,294,484. He made the final start of his career in the Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park last month, finishing fourth.

Campaigned by breeders Pam and Marty Wygod, Idiot Proof had his best season as a 3-year-old in 2007, winning 4 of 8 starts and $803,136. The campaign was highlighted by wins in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth, where he ran six furlongs in a track record 1:07.47; a win in the Grade 1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita, where he ran six furlongs in 1:07.57; and a second to Midnight Lute in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Monmouth.

Trained for most of his career by Clifford Sise, Idiot Proof made one international start, finishing second to Benny the Bull in the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai in early 2008.

The 2007 Ancient Title was Idiot Proof's final win. A 5-year-old, Idiot Proof is by Benchmark, who stands for the Wygods at River Edge Farm in Buellton, Calif. Idiot Proof is out of Perfectly Pretty, a 10-year-old Bertrando mare who was a winner on the track.

Idiot Proof will stand for $1,500, according to a statement released by Ballena Vista.

His arrival for the 2010 breeding season comes two weeks after Ballena Vista lost Deputy Commander because of declining health.

Bill allows bonus for maidens

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last weekend providing funding for the state's newly created maiden bonus program for California-breds.

The legislation approves an existing program that began Sept. 30. The program pays $20,000 to the owners of California-breds that win maiden special weight races in Southern California and $10,000 to owners whose horses win such races in Northern California. Promoters with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association are hoping the legislation will spur interest in owning California-breds and offset the highest costs of getting yearlings to the races.

Assembly Bill 1578 will take effect Jan. 1. Until then, the program will be financed by the California Marketing Committee, which was launched in the late 1990s as a promotional tool for the state's racing industry.

Dancing in Silks eyes two BC races

California Cup Sprint winner Dancing in Silks is being considered for two Breeders' Cup sprints Nov. 7 - the $2 million Sprint and the $1 million Turf Sprint - trainer Carla Gaines said.

Dancing in Silks, 4, has won 6 of 12 starts and $367,622. He has won his last three starts, including an optional claimer and the restricted Pirate's Bounty Handicap at Del Mar.

The Grade 1 BC Sprint would be Dancing in Silks's first start in a graded stakes. The Turf Sprint is in its second year and is not graded.

If he starts in the Turf Sprint, Dancing in Silks will face fellow California-bred California Flag, who may go favored. Trained by Brian Koriner, California Flag earned an automatic berth to the BC Turf Sprint with his win in the Grade 3 Monrovia Handicap here Sept. 30.