CTBA Member PROFILE DERON PEARSON BY EMILY SHIELDS built up my stable over time as Challenge Cup Stakes (GIT) at money allowed.” Keeneland, and the $200,000 eron Pearson, CEO Pearson developed a working Pucker Up Stakes (G3T) at of the IT company partnership with trainer James Arlington Park. She finished Nexus IS, has enjoyed Cassidy, who helped Pearson third in Hollywood Park’s Da parade of success since he buy a string of horses from Matriarch Stakes (GIT) against first started buying horses two England. older fillies and mares. She also decades ago. Stakes winners “Jim was doing that already, finished second in the voting CLIMBING such as Ticker Tape, Prize Ex- so that was our angle at the for Eclipse champion turf THE LADDER hibit, and Ocho Ocho Ocho beginning,” Pearson said. female horse that season. After made a name for Pearson The first standout from this being sold to James Peyton, OF RACING across the country. But when endeavor was English-bred Ticker Tape eventually earned Continental Divide took the Ticker Tape, whom Pearson a total of $1,452,396. SUCCESS $101,035 Graduation Stakes at called “my best turf filly.” He Around the same time, ONE HORSE Del Mar, the bay colt brought owned the Royal Applause Pearson owned Katdogawn, Pearson his first-ever Califor- filly in partnership with Jack another English-bred, in AT A TIME nia-bred stakes win. Sweesy and Jim Ford. partnership. The daughter of Winning a stakes race at Del Together the partners raced Bahhare earned $827,553, Mar was only fitting, as Pear- Ticker Tape through a 10-race having broken her maiden son first found an interest in 3-year-old campaign in 2004 first out in England before the sport by visiting the seaside that resulted in five stakes coming to the United States oval with his grandfather. wins, including the $750,000 in 2003 and winning the San “I started buying small American Oaks Invitational Clemente Handicap (G2T) interests in horses about 20 (GIT) at Hollywood Park, the by two lengths. She added the years ago,” said Pearson, “and $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap (G2T) via the disqualification of Megahertz in 2004, and after Pearson had sold his in- terest in the mare, she won the 2005 WinStar Distaff Handi- cap (G3T), a $200,000 race. More recently, Pearson has seen success with the likes of Yahilwa, Ocho Ocho Ocho, and Prize Exhibit. Yahilwa raced in England 12 times before coming to the United States. She raced well on both the turf and dirt at Santa Anita before breaking through to win the Treasure Chest Stakes at Delta Downs. She added a win in the Sixty Sails Handi- cap (G3), then ran second and third in the grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, respectively. Those efforts earned her a trip to the 2015 Longines BENOIT PHOTOS © Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Deron Pearson, right, is enjoying his racing success in the spotlight of the Del Mar winner’s circle where she finished sixth. after his 2-year-old Continental Divide won the Graduation Stakes After two more graded stakes 38 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED ❙ September 2017 ❙ www.ctba.com Deron Pearson, center debut, finished second, with right, and his DP Racing favored Drizzy third. Con- crew, including trainer tinental Divide has earned Jim Cassidy, second right $69,000. “I think it’s great that the Cal-bred race option is there for us,” Pearson said. “They have great purses. We want to experiment to see how he fits with open company, which means we have lots of options for his next race. We could even just give him some time.” Pearson is also supporting the California breeding pro- gram. He stands and raced Golden Balls, a son of Dane- hill Dancer—Colourful Cast, by Nashwan. The multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner stands at Paradise Ranch Road. placings in 2016, Yahilwa was retired and Pearson also stands Tom’s Tribute, who bred. She will sell in foal to War Front did not race for Pearson’s DP Racing but this fall. I think it’s great that whom he acquired when the son of Lion Prize Exhibit broke her maiden at the Cal-bred race option Heart—Halloween Fun, by El Prado, re- Lingfield, then made her first U.S. start tired. Tom’s Tribute won six of 16 starts, in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is there for us. They have including the $300,250 Eddie Read Turf (G1T). She finished fourth behind great purses.” Stakes (G1T), and earned $634,880. Lady Eli at staggering odds of 71-1. She “He will be standing at Rancho San picked up wins in the $200,250 San — Deron Pearson Miguel in 2018,” Pearson noted. The Clemente Handicap (G2T) and the owner has heavily supported both of his $201,500 Senorita Stakes (G3T) at 3, California-based stallions in hopes of then took the $101,000 Monrovia Stakes expanding his foothold in the state. (G2T) in her first start at 4. In all, Prize $245,000 at this year’s Barretts March “I love the Cal-bred program,” Pearson Exhibit has won seven of 36 starts for 2-year-old sale. He finished second in his said. “I’m hoping that with 20 mares in $683,630. debut, a five-furlong dash on Del Mar’s foal to Tom’s Tribute that I’ll see even Ocho Ocho Ocho, a son of Street main track. Not one to be discouraged more success here.” Sense, won his first three starts and vault- by a loss, Pearson urged Cassidy to run in Pearson has more than 20 mares in ed to the top of many Kentucky Derby the Graduation Stakes against Cal-bred California, 12 more in Kentucky, and watch lists with a gritty nose victory in winners. two in England. the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot “We’re not afraid to run in stakes races “I get over there from time to time,” Stakes (G3). He has never won again, but with maiden 2-year-olds if they ran a big Pearson said, “but mostly just for the contested the 2015 Kentucky Derby Pre- race prior,” Pearson explained. “They’re sales. Buying overseas is different because sented by Yum! Brands (G1) on his way basically at the same level.” they are horse in training sales where to $852,360 in earnings. Ocho Ocho Continental Divide sat back in fifth they’ve already shown some form. You Ocho returned to training this summer under Victor Espinoza, then rallied at get an idea of how they’ve done before, so at Del Mar. the top of the stretch to take the lead. it’s less risky.” Cal-bred Continental Divide might The colt won by three-quarters of a With an expanding Cal-bred program be the one who carries Pearson’s banner length, stopping the clock in 1:05.27 for and young horses to look forward to, 1 even further. The son of Animal King- the 5 ⁄2-furlong distance. Smokem, who Pearson could be a force on the circuit dom—Bandora, by Dixieland Band, cost had defeated Continental Divide in his for a long time to come. www.ctba.com ❙ September 2017 ❙ CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED 39.