William Currin
A native of Oxford, North Carolina, Currin has lived in California for many years, where he was involved in the home construction and development business. He first worked with with gaited horses, walking horses and hunter jumpers before a fascination with Daily Racing Form whetted his appetite for Thoroughbred racing. He got into the business in the 1960s as an owner but turned to training in 1969 when his trainer at the time quit. Currin, who co-owns all the horses he trains, keeps a string of about 20 at Hollywood Park. He has started one horse in the Kentucky Derby, Outta Here, who was 7th in 2003. He and his wife, Betty, have two grown children.
Kent Desormeaux
Desormeaux, a native of Maurice, La., began riding in 1986 at Evangeline Downs; a year later he moved from Louisiana to Maryland. There, he led the nation's apprentices in victories in 1987, but his 450 wins led all jockeys. In 1989, Desormeaux blitzed the record for victories in a year by riding to the winner's circle 598 times, breaking Chris McCarron's 1974 mark of 546. He shifted his tack to Southern California in 1990 and has won Eclipse Awards in 1987, 1989 and 1992 in addition to the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1993. He has won riding titles at all of the southern California tracks as well as Laurel, Pimlico, and in Tokyo, Japan. The close of 2004 saw Desormeaux ranked 15th nationally in purses won, earning over $8.7 million, with some of his top horses being Musical Chimes, Ticker Tape, Island Fashion, and Domestic Dispute. He teamed up with Drysdale to win the 2000 Kentucky Derby aboard Fusaichi Pegasus; also won the 1998 Derby aboard Real Quiet. He is still looking for his first Kentucky Oaks win. He and his wife, Sonia, have two sons, Joshua and Jacob.
Betty Currin
Betty, wife trainer William, originally came from North Carolina. They relocated to Southern California in the late 1950's so that Bill could develop property in the Rancho Mirage area. They bought their first racehorse in 1966. They moved their land development business to northern California and bought a small farm in Pleasanton. It became the
nucleus of Oak Tree Farm, where they bred Memorette. Their first good horse was Fondre, granddam of Memorette. While they call their Oak Tree Farm in Pleasanton their main residence, but they own several homes in Los Angeles and spend summers in Del Mar. Most of their mares are boarded in Rancho Santa Fe.
Oak Tree Farm (CA)
Oak Tree Farm is the name sake of Bill and Betty Currin. Originally came from North Carolina. They relocated to Southern California in the late 1950's so that Bill could develop property in the Rancho Mirage area. They bought their first racehorse in 1966. They moved their land development business to northern California and bought a small farm in Pleasanton. It became the nucleus of Oak Tree Farm, where they bred Memorette. Their first good horse was Fondre, granddam of Memorette. While they call their Oak Tree Farm in Pleasanton their main residence, but they own several homes in Los Angeles and spend summers in Del Mar. Most of their mares are boarded in Rancho Santa Fe.
05.04.05 - Wednesday Barn Notes 05.03.05 - Tuesday Barn Notes 05.02.05 - Monday Barn Notes 05.01.05 - Sunday Barn Notes 04.30.05 - Saturday Barn Notes 04.29.05 - Friday Barn Notes 04.28.05 - Thursday Barn Notes 4.09.05 - Sis City Wins Her Third In A Row With Ashland Victory 3.13.05 - Sweet Catomine Easy Winner Of Santa Anita Oaks
MEMORETTE finished third to Sis City and Runway Model in the Ashland last out and she was 13 plus lengths behind the winner in what was still a decent effort. Race should help her adjust to the new environment and weather as she has been in Kentucky since Keeneland and the relaxed environment in Lexington is a great place to prepare a horse for Derby weekend. Never really run a speed figure fast enough to win this but she's ultra consistent and loves to run in the money. Any kind of forward move makes her a valuable candidate for third and fourth slots in exotic wagers. Hard to see her crashing the exacta party.
Memorette is by the Chilean bred stallion Memo, currently standing stud at Ridgeley Farm in California. Memo, a graded stakes winner of more than $800,000 in earnings, had two horses, Guillermo and Enzo the Baker, that are stakes winners from his first crop. Guillermo, who placed in this year's Zany Tactics Stakes at Santa Anita, has won or placed in six of seven career starts for four wins and earnings of $173,903. Forever Fondre, dam of Memorette, is four for five with winners from starters. None have had spectacular careers on the track, and two of them (including the subject filly), won at age two. Forever Fondre was but 1 for 11 in her racing career, with her lone win coming going a route of ground on the dirt. She is a half-sister to minor stakes winner Paradise Found, who also finished third in the Peter Pan (GII), Jim Dandy (GII), and Colin (GIII). Their dam, Fondre, who the also Currins raced, was Grade One stakes placed and earned over $220,000 at the races.
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