She's Gottogetaway highlight for owners

DEL MAR, Calif. - In recent years, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, Calif., has grown in prominence through its yearling consignments, broodmare acquisitions, and as a stud farm.

Wednesday at Del Mar, Tommy Town had its first major success on the racetrack when She's Gottogetaway pulled an upset in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes.

The victory was a pleasant surprise to farm owners Tom and Debra Stull. Sent off at 28-1, She's Gottogetaway caught the heavily favored Dirty Diana in the final strides of the six-furlong race.

"I didn't think she could go six," Tom Stull said. "She looked like the type that needs to go farther."

The Stulls bought She's Gottogetaway's dam, Hot Getaway, for $11,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales in Florida in October 2000 while in foal to Lite the Fuse. She's Gottogetaway was registered as a California-bred because she was bred back to Old Topper, who stands at Tommy Town.

The Stulls have acquired a majority of their mares at out-of-state sales. Many of the mares were in foal at the time. In 2002, they consigned an Unbridled's Song filly to a Del Mar yearling sale that topped the sale at $250,000.

The Stulls have 140 broodmares, a roster likely to change later this year.

"We'll go back to Kentucky," Tom Stull said. "We'll be selling a few and adding a few."

In coming years, the Stulls will have more runners at the track. Later this year, She's Gottogetaway, who is trained by Ruben Cardenas, may start in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Nov. 8.

"I'm just getting started," Tom Stull said. "The mares we have are young mares and we don't have a lot of runners."

California-breds to sell at Keeneland

The 12-day Keeneland September yearling sale that begins on Monday features 13 California-breds - nine colts and four fillies.

One of the more prominent California-bred colts offered is a full-brother to Officer, the winner of the 2001 Champagne Stakes and the beaten favorite in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park. Officer earned $804,090 in a two-year racing career.

Consigned by Narvick International, the Bertrando colt is out of St. Helens Shadow and sells Thursday.

The Sept. 16 session include a Cee's Tizzy colt who is a full-brother to Cee's Elegance, winner of the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park in July. Cee's Elegance has earned $744,039.

On Sept. 17, a Swiss Yodeler colt who is a half-brother to Don'tsellmeshort sells as part of the Denali Stud consignment. Don'tsellmeshort won the Graduation Stakes on July 30 and is a candidate for Monday's I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.

There are several California-breds in the sale by stallions based in other states, including colts by Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm (1997) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000).

Fighting Fit pensioned

Fighting Fit, a six-time stakes winner and millionaire on the racetrack and the sire of more than 12 stakes winners, has been pensioned.

The decision was made in late August by Donald Cohn, the owner of Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif. Fighting Fit stood at stud at Ballena Vista since 1995.

Fighting Fit, 24, showed signs of acute joint arthritis during the recent breeding season, according to Janine McCullough, the director of operations at Ballena Vista Farm.

"We have been milling over his retirement since the painful signs started in both hind ankles this year," McCullough said in a statement.

Fighting Fit won 14 of 49 starts and $1,004,174 in a four-year racing career. He finished third in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park in 1984.

McCullough said Fighting Fit will remain at Ballena Vista.