In Memory of Warren Stute

Trainer Mel Stute holds a cake in memory of brother Warren's birthday.

Opening Day at Oak Tree this year falls on what would have been the 88th birthday of legendary trainer Warren Stute. Born September 30, 1921, Warren Stute passed away in 2007. But his memory is still alive at Clockers' Corner, Santa Anita, where a group of trainers, riders, jockey agents, owners, and racing fans gathered Monday morning to honor him. His younger brother, trainer Mel Stute, proudly holds a massive sheet cake made by the Santa Anita pastry chefs. (It was delicious!)

Happy birthday, Warren. We all miss you.

Sharing the Stute Pride in Kentucky Derby Contender Papa Clem

Nowhere is news of Papa Clem more closely followed than right here at Clockers Corner, Santa Anita. Morning regulars gather around iconic trainer Mel Stute, hanging on every bit of current information about the California contender for the Kentucky Derby trained by his son, Gary.

Earlier today, Mel was proudly passing around this morning's article in the Los Angeles Times by well-known sports columnist Bill Dwyre. Dwyre brings attention to the story of the people behind the horse -- the "Hirsch-Stute team."

Dwyer's is the type of human interest story that gives life to the coverage of the Run for the Roses, and that inspires would-be racing fans to take a closer look at, and perhaps fall in love with, the sport that so beautifully weaves together the lives of humans and equines.

Papa Clem is trained by Gary Stute for owner Bo Hirsch. Warren Stute, Gary's uncle, trained for Bo's father, Clement L. Hirsch, for more than 40 years.

Mel Stute, who is still training at 81, also trained for Clement Hirsch in the early 60s, taking over for a couple of years when his brother tried a stint as a private trainer for Travis Kerr. Pressed for a story of one of his better runners from the period, Mel recalled Mary Mel -- a filly he claimed for Hirsch for $5,000 and who subsequently ran a close third against males in the 1963 Del Mar Derby.

With only 8 days to go until the First Saturday in May, the buzz at Clockers Corner will no doubt continue to escalate as we follow Papa Clem, Pioneerof the Nile, Chocolate Candy, I Want Revenge, and all of the "California connections" making their presence known in Louisville.

Legendary California Training Family Has a New Shot at the Kentucky Derby

Father and son: trainers Mel and Gary Stute at Clockers Corner 4/15/09.

There hasn't been this type of excitement in the Stute family since 1986, when champion Snow Chief won the Florida, Jersey, and Santa Anita Derbys. Trained by Mel Stute, Snow Chief ran 11th behind Ferdinand in the Kentucky Derby, but went on to win the Preakness and the following year's Strub Stakes and Oaklawn Handicap on his way to retiring as the all-time California-bred earner.

This year, Mel's son Gary takes Papa Clem to Churchill Downs on the heels of his impressive win in the $1 million Arkansas Derby on Apr. 11.

Papa Clem was named in honor of owner Bo Hirsch's father, Clement L. Hirsch. According to Gary Stute, "Papa Clem" was the nickname given to the elder Hirsch by Bo's children.

Clement Hirsch was a prominent California Thoroughbred owner best known as co-founder and president of the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita. The Hirsch and Stute families share a long association in California racing. Warren Stute, Mel's older brother, trained for Hirsch for more than 40 years.