Karen Headley Wants to Win Kona Gold
Santa Anita changed the name of the Potrero Grande Stakes this year and it wasn’t because it was hard to pronounce or hard to spell. It was a chance to honor 2000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Kona Gold, trained by Bruce Headley.
Headley long ago retired the Cup for winning the Kona Gold Stakes when it was run as the Potrero Grande through 2014. The 81-year-old trainer captured the race six times, twice with Kona Gold, in 2000 and 2001.
On Saturday, Bruce’s daughter, Karen, a trainer in her own right, will attempt to win the Grade II race at 6 ½ furlongs with the crack sprinter San Onofre, who has four wins and two seconds from six career starts, with earnings of $195,040 for owner Aase Headley.
She is the mother of Karen and the wife of Bruce. She campaigns as Matson Racing.
“This is a race I’ve wanted to win ever since it was changed from the Potrero Grande,” Karen said. “I galloped Kona Gold, my dad bought him, broke him, and the horse is up for the Hall of Fame this year.
“Alex Solis (who rode Kona Gold to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint victory in 2000) rides San Onofre and the horse is coming up to the race really well,” Karen added. “Everything is just right.”
Added Solis, a newcomer to the Hall of Fame: “It would be very special to win the first Kona Gold. The horse meant so much to us and did so many great things.”
San Onofre blew out three furlongs Thursday in 36.40.
The $200,000 Kona Gold: Spirit Rules, Iggy Puglisi, 8-1; Caminetto, 8-1, Martin Garcia; Seeking the Sherif, Kayla Stra, 4-1; Sahara Sky, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; San Onofre, Alex Solis, 3-1; Masochistic, Tyler Baze, 2-1; and Ankeny Hills, Edwin Maldonado, 12-1.
Source: Santa Anita Park