Baze wins 4 more races Sunday at Sonoma County Fair

By HOWARD SENZELL
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Calle Vista made it a clean sweep of the weekend feature races by Southern California invaders and Hall of Famer Russell Baze rode four winners on Sunday at the Sonoma County Fair.

Calle Vista’s victory in the $55,900 Luther Burbank Handicap comes on the heels of Saturday’s win in the Horseman of the Year Stakes by She Spirit Di Sue. Each winning owner took $33,200 out of the local coffers.

Kerwin John, a transplanted jockey from the Santa Anita-Hollywood-Del Mar circuit, was aboard Calle Vista.

“We’ve got some good horses in Northern California, but not near the number of good horses as Southern California,” John said in explaining the out-of-towners success.

“When I brought my tack north, I was hoping I’d get to ride horses shipping up from Southern California. This was a nice one to get.”

Following instructions by Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, John urged Calle Vista away from the gate sharply and then got her to relax in third place until the head of the stretch.

“I had a ton of horse turning for home,” he said. “I got her in the clear and she really kicked it in.”

Bleach Blonde checked in second and Cathy’s Crunches took third.

Calle Vista, who has finished first or second in nine of her 14 races, paid $10.60 to win.