DEL MAR – Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally yesterday remembered Sid Craig, who died Monday of cancer at 76, as “one of the best clients and friends anyone could have ever had.”
McAnally was the main trainer for the stable of Sid and Jenny Craig, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe residents and weight-loss company magnates. He conditioned many of their top horses, including two-time Eclipse Award winner Paseana, Epsom Derby champion Dr Devious and 2003 Pacific Classic winner Candy Ride.
McAnally, contacted by phone in Los Angeles, where he was attending the funeral of another friend, fondly recalled trips arranged by the Craigs for family and friends for birthdays and other celebrations that sometimes coincided with major races. They went to England for the Epsom Derby, France for races at Longchamp, New York for “The Producers” on Broadway, among others.
“The last time I saw him,” McAnally said, “I said to Sid, 'I've got to tell you some of the best times I've ever had in my life were thanks to you and Jenny.' ”
The Craigs' proudest moment here was Candy Ride's Pacific Classic victory.
In January of that year McAnally was made aware that the Argentine standout was for sale. He obtained tapes of Candy Ride's races, viewed them with the Craigs and closed the deal by saying, “Sid, this is the horse that's going to win the Pacific Classic for you.”
Candy Ride did, in a stakes-record 1:59.11 under Julie Krone. It was the Craigs' only Pacific Classic victory in three tries.
“The reason they wanted to win the Pacific Classic and the reason it was such a big thing for them is because it was in San Diego, where their business is and where the family lives,” McAnally said.
McAnally added it was too early to tell what the passing of Sid Craig would mean for the horse racing part of the family enterprises.
“But I can say that Jenny has been pretty involved with the horses, just like Sid,” McAnally said. “I have several horses for them already and a lot of babies (2-year-olds) of theirs just arrived at the track the other day.”
In addition to racing and breeding stock, the Craigs own a 237-acre training center in Rancho Santa Fe that was built by the late Chargers owner Gene Klein. Originally called Rancho Del Rayo, the Craigs renamed it Rancho Paseana upon purchase in 1995.
Win one for Sid
Babs Moossa, a 2-year-old owned by Rancho Santa Fe's
Ted Aroney, a friend and former business partner of the Craigs, nosed out 7-5 favorite
Triumphant Flight to capture yesterday's 57th running of the $125,000 Graduation Stakes.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for Aroney's Halo Farms, Babs Moossa covered 5½ furlongs in 1:04.70 on Polytrack, nearly two seconds faster than eventual Del Mar Futurity winner Georgie Boy went in winning last year's Graduation.
Fifth of six early under Garrett Gomez, Babs Moossa ($8.80) moved to fourth, within two lengths of the lead, at the top of the stretch and got up for a second straight stakes victory to go with the Solano County Juvenile on July 12.
On June 12, Babs Moossa was entered in a maiden claiming race at Pleasanton and could have been acquired for $12,500. Yesterday's $81,600 winner's share of the purse increased the Crowning Storm gelding's earnings to $132,450. Crowning Storm was owned by Sid Craig.
Notable
Apprentice jockey
Jose Campos was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for precautionary X-rays and released after being thrown to the turf when his mount,
No Ka Oi, stumbled shortly after the start of the sixth race. Campos, 20, will test his fitness for riding this morning and then decide regarding two scheduled mounts on today's program, his agent,
Roger Olguin, said
. . . Ventos Do Sul, an unraced 2-year-old
Northern Afleet filly, died of a heart attack on the track during the workout period yesterday morning . . . Jockey
Alex Solis broke out of an 0-for-12 start to the meeting with three wins.
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
