Cal State Fullerton researchers testing Ladera Ranch soil for contaminants

• September 27, 2026

At a chemistry lab at Cal State Fullerton, two students and their professor huddle around a tiny plastic jar containing a precious substance: dirt.

It may not look like much, but this dirt might hold an explanation for what’s been making people sick in Ladera Ranch, where a string of children have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

This particular sample was collected from Boreal Plunge Park in Ladera Ranch, but water and soil samples also were taken from Wagsdale Dog Park and Town Green. The researchers plan to perform air quality tests as well.

Three professors in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry — Daniel Curtis, Paula Hudson, and Stevan Pecic — are leading this initial phase of a voluntary research project at Cal State Fullerton, with about a dozen undergraduate students assisting.

Curtis is examining the presence of heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic and chromium, in the water and soil. At certain levels, these toxins are linked to cancer. Commonly used pesticides used to contain harmful substances, including arsenic and lead, and although those have been phased out of use, they persist in the soil, Curtis said. Also, in the early 1900s, ranchers engaged in a process called cattle dipping, which involved having cows walk through vats of arsenic to rid them of cattle fever ticks, though it’s unknown where these vats were located.

Hudson is looking into the persistence of more modern pesticides. Pecic is studying how bacteria present in the soil might convert innocuous compounds into potentially toxic chemicals. Getting a variety of researchers involved allows them to “attack from every angle,” Pecic said.

The samples will be compared with others collected from communities around Orange County, including soil from Cal State Fullerton’s campus and from Anaheim.

In Curtis’ lab, the students dry out the soil in an oven at 60 degrees Celsius, then they grind it into smaller bits with a mortar and pestle. They measure out less than half a gram of dirt, which is then mixed with acid, which will dissolve the metals present in the soil. This process allows the team to measure how much metal is present in the acid mixture.

“We don’t want to find anything, to be honest,” Curtis said. “We don’t want there to be pollution there. But if it is there, this would tell us pretty quickly.”

The researchers are careful to point out that nothing they might find will determine causation. There has been little research on Ewing sarcoma, and there are no known environmental causes of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

“We’re all very cautious about causality, but we certainly can start showing associations and correlations,” said Jennifer Piazza, a CSUF professor of public health and the scientific consultant for the group Ladera Health Watch.

But, the researchers stress, it’s important to know what’s out there. Their data could help inform the ongoing state-level investigation as well, Curtis said. The end goal is to publish a study on their findings, likely sometime in October.

“We’re just trying to figure out if there is something there,” Curtis said. “And that’s all we can do right now.”

More research to come

These tests are only the first phase of a much larger, likely multiyear scientific study, Piazza said. In total, seven professors from a variety of fields are planning research projects based in Ladera Ranch, including a geography professor who plans to look into mapping and historical land use and public health professors hoping to survey locals for bio-indicators of health.

“Right now we’re seeing soil and water samples, but this is one part of a much larger scientific investigation,” Piazza said. “We’re just slowly trying to figure out this puzzle, piece by piece.”

The first phase, which includes environmental testing and preliminary historical mapping, likely will conclude by the end of the year, Piazza estimates.

Though this research can’t definitively prove that environmental issues are behind the rash of Ewing sarcoma and other cancers, it’s important to have the data, she said. “Decisions are made by communities every day,” Piazza said. “To make the most informed decisions about human health, we need data.”

Since 2007, as many as nine people, ranging from pre-teens to young adults in their early 20s, in Ladera Ranch have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. At least two have died, including 17-year-old Brody Matteson, who passed away in March. Lilly Dalton died of Ewing sarcoma in January at 23 years old. She grew up in neighboring Laguna Niguel, but spent a lot of time in Ladera Ranch as a teenager.

When news first broke about the cancer cases, Piazza began reaching out to professors for help, but soon, more began reaching out to her.

“It’s a lot of Titans helping Titans,” said CSUF chemistry professor Paula Hudson, referencing the CSUF mascot.

For Piazza, this issue is personal — she’s lived in Ladera Ranch for about 10 years and raised a child there. “I care about this community, I’m a part of this community,” Piazza said. “These are neighbors of mine.”

​ Orange County Register 

Editorial: Hilton’s energy vs. Becerra’s silence in the race for California governor

• September 27, 2026

The candidates for California governor are currently scheduled to meet in just one debate, on Wednesday night, September 30. Steve Hilton told our editorial board that eight debates were offered by different media outlets and organizations, and that he accepted all of them but Xavier Becerra accepted only one, a debate on CNN with no California journalists asking questions.

We were unable to ask Becerra about it. He refused to meet with our editorial board.

Hilton readily answered our questions, explaining his ideas for policy changes that would help Californians economically by reducing taxes. He proposes exempting the first $150,000 from income tax and instituting a flat 8% tax on income above that level. He correctly points out that California currently imposes a sky-high 9.3% tax rate on earnings that are barely above the median income.

An earlier version of his tax-cut plan drew the support of Democrat Katie Porter, a rare bipartisan agreement that taxes are taking too much of the money Californians earn. Hilton observed that the state budget has doubled in ten years. He said he would return the workforce to its pre-Newsom size and stop the funding for high-speed rail.

Hilton has also taken aim at the state’s high vehicle registration fees. He is proposing a cap on those fees of $73 per vehicle, per year. He said he would pay for it by abolishing the Department of Motor Vehicles, noting that many states get by without one.

On housing, Hilton said he is “proudly pro-sprawl,” ready to sweep away unnecessary regulations that are adding an average government cost of $132,000 to the price of a new home. While not opposed to apartment construction, he said, accurately, that the state government has been blocking the development of single-family homes in places that want them. 

Hilton also spoke about the need to reform the state’s costly regulations relating to electricity, where four different bureaucracies have jurisdiction.

Finally, Hilton told our editorial board that he would veto any bill passed by the Legislature that raises costs for California residents or businesses. Even though the Legislature would likely have the votes to override any veto, Hilton said the last veto override was in 1979. “They can’t justify what’s in these bills,” he said. “If forced to justify it, much of the opposition will fall away.”

In contrast to Hilton’s specific plans and ideas to make California more affordable for the people who still live here, Becerra has offered little in the way of details about how he would govern the state. He announced a plan to give two hours of free electricity per day to qualifying low-income families. He said he would “issue an executive order declaring California’s housing shortage a state of emergency” on his first day in office.

The home page of Becerra’s website states “The Case for Xavier Becerra” in two paragraphs that focus on fighting the man in the White House. “Californians know all about disasters, but Donald Trump is a man-made natural disaster attacking Californians every day,” Becerra’s website declares. 

The rest of the website is mostly generalities and platitudes interrupted by the occasional terrible idea. Becerra’s two-paragraph “Economy & Affordability” plan includes “using the power of the state to lower prices where the market has failed.” The last time that was tried, major insurance companies stopped writing policies in California.

Hilton told our editorial board that the idea of bringing “balance” to California’s political system is resonating with many voters. How many remains to be seen, but at least one candidate for governor is actually bringing energy and ideas to the race.

​ Orange County Register 

Honda HR-V vs Kia Seltos, a budget SUV Edmunds comparison

• September 27, 2026

By BRADLEY IGER of Edmunds

Crossovers have become a popular choice for buyers who want the practicality of an SUV without the size and expense of a larger vehicle. For many shoppers, that means finding a vehicle that’s easy to live with, offers enough room for everyday duties, keeps fuel costs in check, and provides the versatility to be useful for a range of needs. The 2027 Honda HR-V and 2027 Kia Seltos both make a case for that balance, but they take somewhat different approaches to the formula.

Honda’s HR-V is the little sibling to the larger CR-V and sets a benchmark for what to expect from an extra-small SUV. Kia’s Seltos is less well known but enters 2027 with a full redesign that brings more space, revamped styling and a newly available hybrid powertrain. Both are compelling options, but which one is the better buy? Edmunds put these two SUVs head-to-head to find out.

Comfort and convenience

Both the Kia Seltos and Honda HR-V make good use of their compact dimensions, offering roomy cabins with generous space in both rows. The Seltos has an especially accommodating rear seat, even for taller passengers. Easy-access child seat anchors add to its family-friendly appeal. For a small SUV like this, the Seltos also boasts a reasonably smooth ride over bumps.

The HR-V is similarly roomy, with large door openings and a comfortable seat height that make entry and exit a breeze. It also has a pretty smooth ride. But Edmunds noticed a difference in seat comfort between these two SUVs. The HR-V’s overly firm front seat cushions and lack of lumbar adjustment take a toll on long-distance comfort. If you frequently have rear passengers, the Seltos has another advantage by way of its rear air vents. You don’t get them in the HR-V.

Winner: Kia Seltos

Power and fuel economy

Neither the 158-horsepower Honda HR-V nor the 147-horsepower Kia Seltos is quick off the line. In Edmunds’ testing, the HR-V needed 10.2 seconds to get from zero to 60 mph, while the Seltos posted a 10.6-second run to 60 mph. Thankfully, you can get a Seltos with a more powerful 190-horsepower turbocharged engine that livens up the car’s acceleration. The HR-V is only available with its base engine.

Both SUVs can deliver impressive fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the HR-V will get up to 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The Seltos gets up to an estimated 30 mpg combined, though the available turbocharged engine drops to 26 mpg combined.

There’s not much of a difference here, but the upcoming hybrid-powered version of the Seltos could tip the scales later this year.

Winner: tie

Cargo and utility

The Seltos offers 27.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second row and up to 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, putting it among the roomiest vehicles in its class. Front storage is less impressive since the narrow center console is deep but not particularly spacious, but there are plenty of additional compartments for smaller items.

The HR-V offers less capacity behind the rear seats at 24.4 cubic feet, but the cargo area is well thought out and makes good use of the space. The rear seatbacks fold nearly flat with the cargo floor, making it easier to haul longer items while expanding total cargo room to 55.1 cubic feet. Cabin storage is adequate, with a rubberized bridge compartment behind the shifter for wireless charging and a deep center-armrest bin, though the door pockets and glovebox are smaller than we’d prefer.

Winner: Seltos

Value

The HR-V makes a strong impression with a well-built, thoughtfully designed interior that features soft-touch surfaces and high-quality-feeling controls. It’s also reasonably priced, with the HR-V LX trim starting at $28,150 including destination fees. The HR-V EX-L tops the lineup at $32,000.

The Seltos has a lower starting price of $26,485, and while fully loaded trims can approach $40,000, you’re generally getting more for your money here. The Seltos has a bigger standard touchscreen, more available driver aids, and more convenience features — such as a power-adjustable driver’s seat or leather upholstery — at a lower price. Kia also has a significant advantage in warranty coverage, with five years/60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain.

Winner: Kia Seltos

Edmunds says

The Honda HR-V covers the bases for what’s expected from an extra-small SUV. But the redesigned Kia Seltos has raised the bar to an all-new level with its generous passenger and cargo space, range of powertrain options, and appealing value. If you want top versatility and style from a small SUV, the Seltos is the way to go.

This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Bradley Iger is a contributor at Edmunds.

​ Orange County Register 

Is your living trust a safety net, hammock or entangled web?

• September 27, 2026

Deciding how and when to leave an inheritance to one’s beneficiaries is often fraught with emotion and stress.

Some folks worry about controlling from the grave but also worry that an outright gift with no strings attached will not be good for their beneficiary in the long run.

Some feel a beneficiary should have more guidance or restrictions such that the gift leaves a legacy for generations to come.

How and when to give an inheritance is a matter of personal philosophy, the size of the estate, the abilities and circumstances of your beneficiary, and the legacy you’d like to leave.

Personal philosophy on inheritance

Warren Buffett once famously said, “Leave the children enough so that they can do anything, but not enough that they can do nothing.” And that can certainly work for high-net-worth individuals.

A client of mine recently referred to the political philosophy of providing “a safety net, not a hammock” with respect to her own estate plan — she wanted to leave future generations a safety net for health and other emergencies, but not a hammock in which to become unproductive.

Does this sound like you? Or are you more comfortable leaving what you have to your children (or other beneficiaries) as a final gift with which they can do as they please, no strings attached? Or maybe you’re somewhere in the middle—you’d like to have the gift restricted until the beneficiary reaches a certain age or other milestone? There is no right or wrong answer. This is your gift to give as you please.

What size is your estate?

A trust that continues for many years after the death of the person who created the trust (the Trustor, also called the Trustmaker) can serve many useful purposes, such as centralized management of assets by a Trustee on behalf of your beneficiaries, structured distribution of assets over time, asset protection, maintaining assets as the separate property of a beneficiary, and providing for future generations. But there are also expenses, including legal, accounting, and trustee fees. Does it make economic sense for your assets to remain in trust? There is no hard and fast rule for “how much is enough.” That again depends on your personal goals and who the beneficiaries are.

Who are your beneficiaries?

If a person you intend to leave assets to in your trust is young or perhaps not as responsible as you’d like, and you are concerned that they will not make good choices with the assets they inherit, you do not do them any favors by ignoring your own instincts. Receiving an inheritance is a privilege; it is, quite literally, a gift. You are free to decide the terms of the gift.

This might be the time for a structured trust that has some strings attached but eventually loosens the strings. For example, the beneficiary will receive one-third of their inheritance at age 25, one-half of what remains at age 30, and all of it at age 35.

In the years before the beneficiary receives all of their inheritance, the trustee can be directed to make distributions for the benefit of the beneficiary for “health, education, maintenance, or support” or for whatever reasons you set forth (for example, $X for a first wedding, $Y upon graduating college, $Z toward a down payment on a first home). The idea is that if the beneficiary does make poor decisions initially, there will be a second and even a third chance to manage assets responsibly when the later distributions are made. By attaching some “strings,” you leave a legacy of asset management and prudence.

The larger the inheritance is, the more a staggered distribution schedule makes sense. You don’t necessarily need to leave $50,000 spread out over ten years. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to dump $500,000 on an eighteen-year-old—especially one who just lost their parent(s).

And remember, the funds can still be used for the heir’s benefit; it’s just that a trustee will be deciding when and how that occurs (based on the terms in your trust).

Beneficiaries with special needs

If your beneficiary has special needs and may one day need “needs-based” government assistance, you will want to leave their inheritance in a “special needs trust” so the beneficiary is not disqualified from receiving government benefits. There are restrictions that apply, so please see legal counsel if you have a special needs beneficiary.

Beneficiaries with other issues

A trust with staggered distributions or distributions only for certain reasons (over the beneficiary’s lifetime) should be considered for beneficiaries with substance abuse problems, an inability to handle finances, shaky marriages, excessive spending habits, creditors, or potential creditors.

The trust, with the right trustee, can protect the assets from being spent unwisely, attached by creditors (including ex-spouses), or wasted away. Again, you’re not “controlling from the grave.” You’re giving a gift with the best chance of benefiting your beneficiary for the long run.

Your legacy

For many people, the idea of leaving a legacy includes gifting to future generations. Trusts can be set up to continue for many generations, sometimes with the assets exempt from future estate taxes.

These trusts, of which there are several variations, are sometimes referred to as “dynasty trusts” or, more formally, “generation-skipping transfer tax-exempt” trusts (GSTT-exempt trusts). The terms of the trust need to be carefully considered, as the trust document will be referred to for decades to come. The tax exemption provisions also need to be drafted carefully and abided by.

The “strings” that are attached can provide asset protection and tax planning—your heirs might be very happy you chose to “control from the grave.”

A legacy and not a burden

While leaving assets in trusts for beneficiaries can protect and provide for your beneficiaries, attaching strings to a trust can also result in messy knots if the terms are not clear.

The trust can and should describe when the trustee can make distributions to the beneficiaries—not simply for “health, education, support, and maintenance,” but also what type of education (college, postgraduate, trade school, study abroad programs?). What type of support (must the beneficiary be gainfully employed? Is travel included? Funds for family reunions? Paying for a wedding? A down payment on a home? An entire home purchase?) Is health insurance included in your definition of health? Do you want the trustee to make annual birthday gift distributions to your beneficiaries? Is the trust solely a safety net to make distributions only when the beneficiary has no other assets, or should the trustee be liberal in making distributions?

Stating your goals for the trust is likewise a good idea. Some decisions a trustee makes can benefit one group of beneficiaries over another.

For example, if one beneficiary receives the income from a trust for their lifetime, and another receives the principal at a later date, should the trustee invest for the highest income or for the preservation or growth of the principal? Is the primary beneficiary your spouse? Your children? The oldest generation of descendants? Or is everyone to be treated equally?

The more specific you can be, while also allowing the trustee discretion, the more likely your legacy will be a true gift to your beneficiaries — the strings will look more like a bow on that gift.

Controlling from the grave can seem like a negative. But setting up your beneficiaries for success and independence is not a bad thing. When appropriate and carefully thought out, restrictions on and specific terms for a gift can benefit your heirs and future generations. And that’s quite a legacy.

Teresa J. Rhyne is an attorney practicing in estate planning and trust administration in Riverside and Paso Robles, CA. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of “The Dog Lived (and So Will I)” and “Poppy in The Wild.”  You can reach her at Teresa@trlawgroup.net

​ Orange County Register 

Galaxy erase 2-goal deficit to beat Rapids

• September 27, 2026

CARSON — Nothing serves as a great wake-up call like a two-goal deficit.

For the Galaxy, their alarm finally went off in the second half of Saturday’s clash against the Colorado Rapids.

After going into halftime trailing 2-0, the Galaxy erupted for three goals, one an own goal, in the second half to steal a 3-2 win in front of 19,452 at Dignity Health Sports Park. This is the first time this season the Galaxy have won back-to-back games.

“A lot of credit goes to the guys for trusting in each other because it’s a game we won off of the press, it’s a game we won off of the commitment and trusting each other,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We had to deal with some situations once we were down 2-0, but dealing with some situations, we created a lot more opportunities and forced some mistakes.”

The Galaxy (9-10-9) remain in eighth place in the Western Conference with the win, now tied with the Rapids (36 points), who are in seventh place.

The Galaxy also rallied for a 3-2 win last Saturday on the road against Minnesota United.

Before the start of their comeback, according to the live MLS standings, the Galaxy had slipped to ninth place. Then came the rally and furious comeback.

“For me, it definitely in the category of beautiful soccer,” Vanney said. “It was a game of just the commitment and disruption and create our own luck through the hard work and press. Just proud of the guys for digging in.”

Justin Haak completed the comeback with a header off of a corner kick in the 74th minute. Eight minutes prior, João Klauss intercepted an errant pass by Colorado goalkeeper Nico Hansen for an easy tap-in for the equalizer at 2-2. Klauss also had a role in the Galaxy’s first goal, but the ball went in off of Colorado defender Reggie Cannon in the 53rd minute.

“The first half was very bad, I didn’t think we could get close to them,” Haak said. “In the second half, we showed the spirit how to fight and after the first goal, you really could feel the energy in the stadium and I think the fans had a big impact on the game today.

“2-0 is not a terrible scoreline and at that point, it was about just getting to halftime (to regroup).”

Midway through an eight-minute stoppage time, Erik Thommy nearly put the game away, but his shot from inside the 18-yard box sailed just over the bar, leaving the result in doubt for a few more minutes. The Rapids had a pair of late corner kick attempts, but the Galaxy defended them and were finally able to exhale and celebrate the win.

The second half was certainly a different experience for the Galaxy than the first.

The Rapids took advantage of some poor 1-v-1 defending, scoring two goals for a 2-0 lead, which they took into halftime. In the fourth minute, Donovan Phillip beat Galaxy defender Jakob Glesnes in space and scored past goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski. In the 39th minute, Paxten Aaronson was able to shed defender Lucas Calegari and then had an easy finish to make it 2-0.

“I looked up and it was four minutes and we had barely touched the ball,” Marcinkowski said. “Every team around the word says, start strong the first five minutes, start strong the first 10 minutes for we didn’t do that today for whatever reason, they were on top of us early, but it was such a long game, there’s ebbs and flows to every game.”

The Galaxy were a bit shorthanded on the night, with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano with the Mexican national team, who kicked off the international break with a 1-1 draw against Colombia in Baltimore, Maryland. Lozano was in the starting lineup and was subbed off in the 64th minute. Also, Joseph Paintsil missed his fourth consecutive game due to a thigh injury.

Klauss, who was making his first start since returning from his foot injury and surgery, was subbed off in the 84th minute.

The Galaxy will return to MLS play Oct. 11 on the road against St. Louis City SC. The week prior, the Galaxy will host Liga MX club Cruz Azul, Oct. 4 in a friendly. The Galaxy now have six regular season games remaining.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels’ bullpen falters after 4-run rally against Mariners

• September 27, 2026

SEATTLE — Taylor Ward put Seattle ahead with a pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh inning, J.P. Crawford followed with a two-run homer and the Mariners beat the Angels 8-4 on Saturday night.

Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson threw 3⅓ scoreless innings but left in the fourth after taking a 104 mph line drive to the left arm, hit by Christian Moore. Michael Rucker came on in relief. The Mariners said Anderson had a left forearm bruise.

Ward, who has struggled since joining the Mariners from Baltimore at the trade deadline, drove in Cole Young and Michael Arroyo with his hit off Angels lefty Mitch Farris (1-4).

Crawford hit Farris’ next pitch into the right field stands.

The Angels tied the game with four runs in the sixth. Bryce Teodosio drove in two on a single off reliever Jose Ferrer, Wade Meckler scored from third on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Heineman and Jose Siri tied it on a groundout to third base that scored Teodosio.

In the ninth inning, Josh Naylor reached on a walk and stole second base, becoming the first first baseman since George Sisler in 1920-1922 to have consecutive 30-steal seasons.

Gabe Speier pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Mariners. Carlos Vargas (3-0) got the win.

Up next

Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (1-6, 4.88 ERA) will face Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert (12-11, 3.81 ERA) in Sunday’s season finale.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita-loving Forged Steel wins Goodwood Stakes at 12-1

• September 27, 2026

ARCADIA — In the days before Forged Steel stepped onto the Santa Anita track to prove he’s a big-time horse for the course, the 4-year-old was the picture of a happy colt.

Co-owner Michael Iavarone said he received video of Forged Steel in the stall that served as the Florida- and New York-based horse’s home away from home.

“He was rolling around. He was squealing,” Iavarone said. “I said, ‘If this horse doesn’t win, I don’t know who does.’”

If Forged Steel looked good in the little video on Iavarone’s smartphone, he looked even better life-size in the $300,000, Grade I Goodwood Stakes on the Santa Anita main track Saturday, making an early surge to the lead on the far turn with jockey Edwin Gonzalez and powering to a 1-1/4-mile victory.

Forged Steel paid $27.60 to win after covering 1-1/8 miles in 1:48.48, the third-fastest of the past 10 runnings of the Goodwood.

Second after a wide trip were Caldera and rider Paco Lopez, giving Saffie Joseph Jr. a 1-2 finish in the latest of the East Coast-based trainer’s run of stakes victories at Santa Anita, including Forged Steel’s 9-1/2-length win in the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup in May.

That Gold Cup romp in Forged Steel’s California debut was followed by a return to his home base at Saratoga, where he finished a slow-starting fifth behind Phileas Fogg in the Suburban Stakes, and a trip back west to Del Mar, where he ran a horrible seventh to Knightsbridge in the Pacific Classic.

Assistant trainer Julia Ezra said a few days before the Goodwood that Forged Steel seemed happier and more focused in training at Santa Anita than he had at Del Mar. The gray son of Vekoma certainly looked that way Saturday.

Now the question is how Forged Steel, a winner of six of 21 starts, will take to the track at Keeneland, in Lexington, Ky., where he’ll be expected to make his first appearance next month. The Goodwood was a Win and You’re In qualifier for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the main event of the Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup festival to be held at Keeneland this year. Forged Steel gets an expenses-paid berth in the Classic.

Favorite and defending Goodwood champion Nevada Beach ran third, three lengths behind the winner. Mr. A.P. finished fourth, followed by Original Sin, Midnight Mammoth, Taif, Vodka Vodka and McAfee.

“It was a big effort off the layoff,” jockey Juan Hernandez said of Nevada Beach. “We will be ready next time.”

Forged Steel’s victory was the first in a Grade I stakes on the U.S. mainland for the Puerto Rico-born Gonzalez.

The Goodwood was one of five graded stakes, several with Breeders’ Cup implications, on a 93-degree day at Santa Anita.

The thriller of the day was a photo-finish victory by Cabo Spirit ($16.40) and jockey Mike Smith, holding off an inside charge by El Potente in the Grade I City of Hope Mile to earn trainer George Papaprodromou’s 7-year-old gelding free entry in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“So many times he’s finished second or third, but he always runs a winning race,” Smith said. “It’s nice to see him get a W.”

Though the Grade II John Henry Turf Championship isn’t officially an expenses-paid qualifier for a Breeders’ Cup race, a strong victory by Atitlan ($3.80) and rider Umberto Rispoli showed trainer Richard Mandella enough to consider sending the 5-year-old to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

It was Atitlan’s first win in three starts since he moved to Mandella after the death of trainer John Shirreffs in February.

“He has been a piece of cake,” Mandella said. “John Shirreffs laid the groundwork and created a good horse. “I just got to polish the apple, that’s all.”

In carrying Rispoli to the first of the jockey’s two victories Saturday, Sorrento Sky ($6.20) looked like a horse peaking at age 5 for trainer Phil D’Amato as he won by a length over the Mandella-trained duo of Sumter and Amorita in the Eddie D Stakes, his second straight Grade II-level turf sprint victory in three starts since being gelded.

“Today he just kept going, kept going, kept going,” Rispoli said of Sorrento Sky, who finished third in the Eddie D a year ago. “The credit goes to Phil, because he felt (Sorrento Sky) needed to be gelded, and the results came right away.”

The last of the five graded stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, the Grade III John C. Harris Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was the least dramatic. Little Opal ($4.40) and Emisael Jaramillo went straight to the lead at the start of the sprint down the grass hillside and were never threatened, winning clearly over Day to Day. Success in Little Opal’s first start at the stakes level kept her unbeaten in three starts.

“They sent her with a lot of accolades,” trainer Doug O’Neill said of breeder-owner Donald Dizney and Double Diamond Farm manager Garrett Smith, “and they were right on.”

The important stakes that pack the first two weekends of Santa Anita’s autumn season continue Sunday with Om N Joy favored (2-1 on the morning line) to deal Rabeeba (5-2) her first defeat in the Grade II Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares, and Maximum Bourbon (6-5) favored to reverse a recent photo-finish loss to Listenupshance (2-1) in the Grade II Santa Anita Turf Championship. The races award their winners free entry in, respectively, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Sprint.

​ Orange County Register 

USC’s Desman Stephens ejected after hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore

• September 27, 2026

LOS ANGELES — A matchup that seemed to hold endless weight for each program involved was completely changed in the blink of an eye.

With 10:06 remaining in the second quarter, on a second-and-9 from the USC 23-yard line, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore took off, racing beyond the first-down marker, before giving himself up with a slide. As he went to the ground, defenseless, Trojans defensive back Desman Stephens lowered his shoulder to Moore’s head and neck area, delivering a blow.

Moore remained on the ground for over 10 minutes, and ultimately exited the stadium after being transferred from a stretcher into an ambulance.

After the hit, Oregon’s players pushed Stephens around in protection of their quarterback. Even after the gravity of the moment settled and the severity of Moore’s injury was understood, Stephens was seen celebrating the hit, and later shaking teammates’ hands.

Dylan Raiola completed 12 of his 15 pass attempts for 203 yards and one touchdown midway through the quarter, settling in after Moore’s injury.

The situation seemed to inspire No. 20 Oregon (2-1). Two plays after Moore exited, backup quarterback Dylan Raiola connected with Evan Stewart for a three-yard touchdown. Then after USC tied the game up with a 39-yard field goal, Raiola led the Ducks on another methodical touchdown drive to take a 13-10 lead into halftime.

By halftime, a game that seemed set for a shootout, with two Heisman-candidate starting quarterbacks and two underwhelming defenses, was instead a sloppy slugfest. The Trojans’ offensive line conceded two sacks and three tackles for loss, and both teams combined for nine penalties.

A bright spot for No. 12 USC (4-0) was wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. At the beginning of the 2026 season, it was another freshman pass-catcher in Trent Mosley who was receiving all the buzz, but with Mosley’s knee injury holding him out on Saturday, the fellow freshman Dixon-Wyatt continued to step up. One week after hauling in five catches for 77 yards against Rutgers, he surpassed that total in the first half.

Dixon-Wyatt and Jayden Maiava connected for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter as USC’s signal-caller laid a perfect ball into the seam.

Along with Dixon-Wyatt, running back King Miller powered the Trojans’ offense with 38 rushing yards as the split with Waymond Jordan remained the same as the first four weeks. While Jordan was the starter last season, Miller has earned the reps as Jordan works back from injury.

In more injury news, defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart was active and delivered two TFLs despite not playing the majority of snaps. The Trojans’ defensive line held up in the first half, especially in the final moments as they stuffed Oregon on three consecutive goal-line runs, forcing Dan Lanning and the Ducks to settle for a 19-yard field goal.

For Oregon, tight end Jamari Johnson led the team with 56 receiving yards after being a game-time decision. Wide receiver Evan Stewart stepped up with Jeremiah McClellan out, hauling in five catches in the first half.

A decision that could come back to haunt USC was opting to receive the opening kickoff after winning the coin toss. The Trojans went empty on their opening drive after Caden Chittenden shanked a 33-yard field goal attempt.

The Ducks capitalized as they had a meticulous drive for a field goal to end the first half, and scored a quick touchdown with their free possession to start the second half, taking a 20-10 lead.

​ Orange County Register