But one account either written or on film wouldn't do justice to a life of both realistic and fairytale fulfillment, the latest episode of which occurred Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Alexander, still an institution in California racing as an owner and breeder going on half a century, owns and bred the winner of the Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks, Rose Dawson, and bred the winner of race seven, Crash Corrigan.

Born in Santa Monica, Alexander said his “roots” are in Nebraska, “but my mom and grandmother and aunt moved out here in the 1930s, so I'm a native Californian.”

He is partial to naming is horses after baseball stars of yesteryear, like Clem Labine and Pee Wee Reese, or war heroes like Desmond Doss, and film characters both real and imagined like Crash Corrigan and Marla Hooch.

“I was a baseball nut from the time I was a little kid,” Alexander said. “I was a Dodger fan before they moved from Brooklyn. We had the PCL (Pacific Coast League) out here where the Angels played in a copy of (Chicago's) Wrigley Field at Santa Barbara and Avalon Street.

“In the mornings after church, my Granny would drive to the ball games for a Sunday doubleheader. The second game was seven innings and I think the tickets were a buck and a half or $2.

“She would take me to watch the Angels. They were my team and the Hollywood Stars were the dreaded rival that played at Gilmore Field. Wrigley Field was beautifully built, and Gilmore was kind of a wooden tinderbox waiting to catch on fire. They were fun times.”

Alexander has a passion for both the past and the present, although he keeps things in perspective. An example would be his “celebration” after Saturday's successes.

“We came home (in Pasadena), took the dog for a walk and ordered barbecued chicken pizza from Blaze,” said Alexander, still taut and trim approaching octogenarian status. “I picked it up and then we watched a Netflix movie.”

Alexander attributes a prudent philosophy in large part to his success, both with Thoroughbreds and automobiles, where he has a dealership in South Los Angeles. He graduated from Pasadena High School and attended USC for two years.

“I've always been a competitive person going back to Little League baseball when I was a kid,” he said. “I was in fifth grade when the Little League was first formed in our area of Pasadena, and I knew most of the kids who played since they were from my own school. The pressure was on to beat the kids you knew so you could brag about it all week long at school.

“I've always been competitive. The car business has monthly goals, always striving to meet or exceed what the factory expects. I've always enjoyed competition.

“I wasn't good enough to be a professional baseball player, so horses were the next best thing.

“I retired several years ago from the car business, and my kids (Nick Jr. and Elizabeth) have taken over the BMW and Mini Cooper dealership in South Los Angeles. It's kind of an industrial neighborhood. I think we're the biggest Mini Cooper dealer in the western states, for sure.”

Alexander has retired as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California but remains a board member, although his term expires in June. He has mixed emotions about the future.

“My personal opinion is the internet set the country and people in general in the wrong direction” he said. “I've always thought that social media is the devil.

“People act on social media like they wouldn't act to your face, so I'm not optimistic about that, and there are a couple of generations that I'm not fond of, but this is still the greatest place in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else.”

Alexander, who turns 80 in September, has fulfilled almost all his dreams, yet he remains committed to the future.

He still has a lot of living to do.

The post Racing A Longtime Outlet For Owner Nick Alexander’s Competitive Spirit appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saturday is also California Cup Day at Santa Anita and a total of 56 horses have been entered to run in the Rainbow 6 sequence, races five through 10, making average field size 9.3 runners per race.

With a 10-race card on tap, there will be special early first post time of 12 noon and approximate post time for race five, is at 2:05 p.m. PT/5:05 p.m. ET.

Race five is a maiden $50,000 claimer for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds at six furlongs.  With a purse of $39,000, the race attracted a field of eight.

Four out of the five Cal Cup Day races are included in Saturday's Rainbow 6, beginning with the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City Bank, which has been carded as race six.  A field of eight older horses will go a mile and one eighth on turf.

Race seven, a $69,000 first condition allowance for older California-bred or sired horses at six furlongs, has also drawn a field of eight.

Race eight, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course, has attracted a full field of 12, with one horse on the also eligible list.

Race nine, the $150,000 Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint, will showcase a field of eight older horses at six furlongs.

Saturday's 10^th race, the $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks, has a field of 12 sophomore fillies at one mile on turf.

Admission gates will open early Saturday at 10 a.m. and Santa Anita's spacious Infield Area will be open via Gate 6 off of Colorado Place on the track's northern perimeter.

For additional information, including complete Cal Cup Day entries, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Presented by John Deere, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is part of the CTBA's lucrative Golden State Series for eligible older fillies and mares bred or sired in California.

Breaking from post position two in a field of nine, Leggs Galore went right to the lead, enjoyed a one length advantage three furlongs from home and easily repelled a challenge mid-way around the turn from Mo See Cal to register her first stakes victory.

“I knew it was going to be hard for them to beat her,” said Gonzalez.  “She was doing it so easily, and running so relaxed.  She had a lot left in the tank…The trip went exactly how it was planned, and it couldn't have gone any better.  She loved it.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Bayern, out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore had been idle since taking a first condition allowance in open company going 5 ½ furlongs on turf here Oct. 10.  Ridden for the third consecutive time by Gonzalez, Leggs Galore was off as the second choice at 5-2 and paid $7.60, $4.60 and $2.80.

“She runs very well fresh and she'd been training as good as she can possibly train, so I was expecting a big performance, but that was pretty impressive today,” said D'Amato.  “I think being able to steadily develop her and the turf has moved her up here…Jack Sims has been really good with that and I think that helped with the success today.”

Winless in two tries versus open maiden allowance company at Oaklawn Park in March and April, Leggs Galore is now unbeaten in four Southern California starts and is thus four for six.  With today's winning purse of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $202,208.

Far back early, the second and third place finishers closed well but never threatened the winner.

Off at 7-1 with Joel Rosario, Nardini paid $6.00 and $3.60 while finishing a half length in front of Warren's Showtime.

The 6-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez, Warren's Showtime found her best stride late to be third by a head over She's Devoted and returned $2.20 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.84, 45.09 and 56.84.

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Wess had been hospitalized since Dec. 31 after suffering a hip fracture and requiring surgery. While hospitalized, he tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email distributed to members of the Minnesota Racing Commission shared with the Paulick Report.

While he began his career as a publicist, working first at Santa Anita and then moving to cross-town rival Hollywood Park, Wess would go on to other racetrack and association management positions, including assistant general manager at Canterbury Park in Minnesota and general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

But it was promoting racing that Wess was best known for, especially during his years at Hollywood Park, when “giveaways” and the launch of the Pick 6 routinely brought weekend crowds of 50,000-plus (the first giveaway, when all paid attendees received a free tote bag, brought out a record 80,348). During his tenure at Hollywood Park, daily average attendance hit a highwater mark of 31,150 in 1980.

Wess left his mark on two other big events. In the early days of the Claiming Crown, when it was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) and Canterbury, he  promoted it tirelessly on behalf of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. During his time at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Wess was part of the braintrust that created the California Cup, an event that had its 31st running two days after his death.

Wess, who always appeared to be a bundle of nervous energy, is remembered by racing writers for the patience, helpfulness and kindness he showed to those who were just beginning their careers. He was an old-school promoter, learning the ropes from the late Bob Benoit and employing props and publicity photos to promote big races and star horses

He is survived, by Ellen, his wife of 58 years, daughter Deborah and son David. A private memorial service for family will be held, and a public memorial is being planned for summer.

A nicer man you will not find. He was there with a generous towel when I was drenching wet behind the ears. https://t.co/4oUOw8aUxU

— Jay Hovdey (@JayHovdey) January 16, 2021

One of the finest persons I've ever met in the sport. Loved the game. Was head of PR at Hollywood Patk when I started out and treated me like I was as important as Jim Murray. RIP.
Retired California and Minnesota racing executive Nat Wess dead at age 81 https://t.co/jzi133QOAe

— Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) January 15, 2021

Nat Wess was a whirling dervish, never sitting or standing still. Back in the day when he was publicity director at Hollywood Park urban legend had him keeping a cot in his office. https://t.co/1K9hYmMPst @drfinsidepost

— Jim Dunleavy (@DRFDunleavy) January 15, 2021

Fans might not have known as much about Nat Wess, but he helped writers tell a lot of the horse-racing stories you enjoyed. Anyone in the track press boxes could relate to what @DRFPrivman tweets here about Nat.https://t.co/QDuaZ3TtMP

— Kevin Modesti (@KevinModesti) January 16, 2021

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The Rainbow Six will be comprised of races five through 10, with assigned post time for race five at 2:02 p.m. PT.  With 66 horses entered and eligible to run in the sequence, average field size for Saturday's Rainbow Six is 11 runners per race.

Friday's Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six went unsolved, with eight consolation tickets with six winners returning $7,439.90 each.

The Rainbow Six Jackpot pool is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners.  On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding consolation tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the Jackpot pool.

Saturday's $1-million Jackpot pool guarantee will apply to Cal Cup Day only.

For additional information, including entries with morning line for all of Saturday's races, please visit santaanita.com.

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Fair Grounds in New Orleans has a 13-race card with six stakes in all, two of them graded, including the G3 Lecomte, a qualifying points race for the G1 Kentucky Derby. Aqueduct offers the 150th running of the Ladies Handicap, and Tampa Bay Downs presents the Pasco and Gasparilla for 3-year-olds and 3-year-old fillies, respectively, that may have designs on official Derby and Kentucky Derby points races down the road at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.

The action at Laurel gets under way at 12:25 p.m. (all times Eastern) with a nine-race card featuring six consecutive stakes beginning with the Geisha (Race 3, 1:23 p.m.) for older fillies and mares going one mile. The stakes finale at Laurel is the inaugural running of the Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, where a field of nine will go postward.

Winter Carnival Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexLRL011621USA-EQB.html

Gulfstream Park's 12-race program starts at 11:45 a.m. ET, with the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf Stakes kicking off the stakes action in the eighth race at 3:15 p.m. The stakes that follow consecutively are the Sunshine Classic, Sunshine Sprint and Sunshine Turf.

Sunshine Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP011621USA-EQB.html

California Cup Day has 10 races including five stakes for state-bred runners. First post is noon locally (3 p.m. ET) and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf gets the stakes going in the day's fourth race at 4:30 p.m. ET. Field sizes throughout the day are large, with 105 horses entered in the 10 races.

Cal Cup Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexSA011621USA-EQB.html

Here's a quick look at the graded stakes

Saturday, Jan. 16

5:23 p.m. ET – $125,000 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds

Wells Bayou, the G2 Louisiana Derby winner in 2020 in front-running fashion, makes his first start in the G3 Louisiana Stakes since finishing a well-beaten fifth in a division of the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn last May 2. Will he be ready to fire his best off the layoff? Blackberry Wine figures to be breathing down the neck of Wells Bayou and comes off a sharp score in allowance company at Fair Grounds Dec. 13, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Silver Prospector will be running late in this 1 1/16-mile main track race.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG011621USA10-EQB.html

6:49 p.m. ET – $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds

Trainer Michael Stidham appears to have a strong one-two punch in this G3 Kentucky Derby points race (note that none of the 11 starters will be treated with race-day Lasix in accordance with the eligibility rules for Derby points). Proxy has won two straight at Fair Grounds for Stidham, and this Tapit colt was produced from Panty Raid, winner of the G1 American Oaks on turf and the G1 Spinster on dirt. His other Lecomte runner is Manor House, an upstart gelding who won his debut at Laurel in December by 12 1/4 lengths. Both showed speed and there are several others in the lineup who could make things very competitive on the front end. That could set things up for the stretch-running colt Midnight Bourbon from the Steve Asmussen barn.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG011621USA13-EQB.html

Sunday, Jan. 17

6:30 p.m. ET – $100,000 Astra Stakes at Santa Anita

Racing fans will get a glimpse of Santa Anita's famous hillside turf course as the nine fillies and mares in the 1 1/2-mile Astra Stakes begin their journey on that course, cross over the main track, then travel once around the turf oval. Quick, the 5-2 morning line favorite trained by John Sadler, has just one victory from eight starts since being imported from England. Second choice Altea, a French-bred formerly trained by Chad Brown but switched to Michael McCarthy prior to her last start in the Dec. 27 Robert J. Frankel (G3), is 1-for-19 in the U.S. since importation from France. Neither inspires great confidence. Avenue de France does like to win, but two of her three career victories from eight starts were in France.  She comes off an allowance win for Leonard Powell and might be the “now” horse.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA011721USA7-EQB.html

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“He went fine,” trainer Dean Pederson said. “Hopefully, we're where we need to be. I had him in 47 and three or four, something like that. Times are irrelevant. It's not like we're deciding to run in a maiden 50 or a maiden 20. It will be a competitive race. You just have to hope for the best.

“He had run hard and just needed a little breather,” Pederson added, explaining the gelding's absence of five months since last Aug. 1 when he finished sixth of eight behind victorious Collusion Illusion in the Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar. “I have an owner who's very cooperative.”

Actually, Fashionably Fast has three owners: breeder John Harris, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, for whom Pederson has trained the last 20 or so years.

A 6-year-old chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit, Fashionably Fast has a 7-4-2 record from 18 starts with earnings of $490,245.

“Like I say, the horse has run hard for us, he ran his eyeballs out against McKinzie (second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend last June 7 to the four-time Grade I winner that was recently retired to stud at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Ky.).”

Prior to the Triple Bend, Fashionably Fast had reeled off six straight victories, four of them in California-bred stakes.

“The Bing Crosby didn't unfold the way we thought it would and he was a tired horse,” Pederson said. “At that point we decided to give him a few months breather.

“Things have gone well since he came back and if we get beat, we'll have to get outrun. He's had several breezes; he hasn't missed a work.

“One thing about this horse: he doesn't owe anybody a dime.”

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Saturday, Jan. 16, is California Cup Day at Santa Anita, with the entire card, including five stakes, dedicated to horses bred or sired in California.

On Sunday, older fillies and mares will go a marathon mile and one half on turf in the Grade 3, $100,000 Astra Stakes.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com.

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