Locally Owned Mocha Express Returns To Training

Mocha Express, the Texas-bred 6-year-old whose lifetime earnings are approaching $1 million for his Spokane owners, is back in training.

The son of Java Gold, co-owned by Roger and Orene Harder of Spokane and Mary Dodd of Deer Park, was named Texas Horse of the Year last month.

Trained by Cheney High graduate Tim Harder, Mocha Express won his first graded stakes race last year at Louisiana Downs. His most recent win came in an allowance race last fall at Turf Paradise, a prep race for the Goodwin Stakes at Santa Anita.

With that, Mocha Express’ lifetime earnings grew to $941,016, Harder said.

Tim Harder shipped the horse to Santa Anita last October with hopes of running him in the Goodwin, a springboard to one of the Breeders Cup championship races.

Mocha Express suffered ankle swelling and was given the rest of the year off.

Tim Harder will use Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa as his base to start this season. A prep race there prior to the April 22 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park is planned. If he comes through that sound, he would probably go in the Lone Star Park Handicap, a race he’s won twice.

“He’s come back strong at this point,” Roger Harder said Thursday. “Tim says he’s doing better than he ever has.”

Mocha Express was also named Texas-bred older horse of the year in ceremonies Jan. 8 in Austin.

The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association will hold its award ceremony Saturday at Emerald Downs.

Frank Lucarelli will be cited as the state’s top trainer. The S.J. Agnew Special Achievement Award will be presented to Ed Heinemann. Salish Shaman, owned by Leslie and Margaret Johnson, will be named state-bred horse of the year.

The Spokesman-Review will receive the Mark Kaufman Media Award for excellence in coverage of the state thoroughbred industry.

Although business at Playfair Race Course is a little below expectations, the wagering handle at the Spokane track is growing monthly, the general manager of the Spokane track said Thursday. Wagering in Spokane on races at 11 major tracks around the country is $56,000 daily for February, Playfair GM Ross Yearout said.

After 44 days dating back to a slow December, the average daily wagering handle is about $41,000, about $9,000 below the track’s goal, Yearout said.

Horsemen will begin training their stock at Playfair in early May. The first season of live, on-site racing at Playfair since 1997 will start in mid-September.

Track officials have scheduled a grand reopening celebration on Feb. 24, with prize giveaways, Yearout said.