Robert S. Evans’ homebred 3-year-old CALIFORNIA SOBER kicked off a special weekend for Herringswell with his first-out, first-win at Delaware Park on Saturday, August 10.

With Kevin Gomez riding, the bay colt by Tonalist – New Normal (by Forestry) “broke slow and raced off the pace and off the rail around the first turn, methodically inched into range leaving the 3/8 marker, engaged the leader from the outside leaving the quarter pole, wore down that rival passing the furlong marker and stayed clear under a steady drive.” He hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front of runner up Romantic Lead who had maintained the lead from the first call into the stretch.

California Sober hails from a prolific family of homebreds for Mr. Evans. His sire, Tonalist, was campaigned by Mr. Evans, winning the Peter Pan Stakes-G2, Belmont Stakes-G1, Westchester Stakes-G3, Cigar Mile Handicap-G1 and two renewals of the Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1. He retired with earnings of $3,647,000.

California Sober’s dam, New Normal, was a graded stakes winner of the 2010 Natalma Stakes-G3 at Woodbine. And HER dam, New Economy, was a multiple graded stakes winner trained by Graham throughout her career from 2000 – 2004. Among New Economy’s wins were the Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders’ Cup Stakes and the La Prevoyante Handicap-G2 in 2002. In 2003, she added the My Charmer Handicap-G3 to her already impressive resume.

Congratulations to Mr. Evans on this terrific debut effort from California Sober!