Del Mar racing: Senor Buscador comes from behind to win San Diego Handicap

• July 30, 2023

DEL MAR — They say pace makes the race and, according to trainer Todd Fincher, that’s certainly the case with Senor Buscador.

The 5-year-old son of Mineshaft got plenty of early speed to run on Saturday and rallied in the stretch for a 1¼-length victory over Slow Down Andy in the $300,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

Ridden by Geovanni Franco, the winner went postward at 13-1 and ran the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.54 in the major prep race for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sept. 2.”

The horse ran to his ability,” said Fincher, who is based in New Mexico but has 11 horses in his barn for Del Mar’s 31-day summer meet. “This horse has outstanding talent, he just needs a pace to run at. When you run against Grade I’s, Grade II’s and Grade III’s, you need a pace and we got one. He showed up. He always tries. When things don’t go his way it’s really frustrating because he doesn’t fight through ’em sometimes. This time it set up and he showed what he can do.”

Last in the nine-horse field after the first half mile, Senor Buscador had moved into fourth by the head of the stretch and sailed by Slow Down Andy in the final stages to post his sixth victory in 12 starts and pad his career earnings to $667,427 with the winner’s share of $180,000.

Brickyard Ride, with Umberto Rispoli aboard, set fast fractions of 23.03, 46.30 and 1:10.36 to set it up for Senor Buscador and make the horse’s connections happy they decided to run him in the San Diego rather than wait for a turf race. Brickyard Ride hung around to grab third, 1¾ lengths behind the runner-up.

“We’ve had so many races in mind for the horse,” Fincher said after his first stakes victory at Del Mar. “We were just trying to pick a race that had the speed to set up a decent pace for him. When we nominated it looked like a lot of speed. If not, we were going to go in the Eddie Read, try him on the grass, but this race looked like we were going to have plenty of pace so we went for this.”

Defunded, the 4-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez aboard, finished a disappointing fourth, a half-length behind Brickyard Ride.

Senor Buscador, who finished eighth in last year’s San Diego while finishing 9¾ lengths behind the winner, Royal Ship, won for the first time in three tries over Del Mar’s main surface. It was the first time Franco rode the horse.

“When I asked him at the three-eighths (pole), he just went,” Franco said. “He really dug in. We got it done.”

Asked if Senor Buscador will try the Pacific Classic if he comes out of the race in good shape, Fincher didn’t hesitate.

“That’s a possibility for sure,” he said. “Anything for this horse. We’ll put him wherever we think he can win.”

BING CROSBY STAKES

The Chosen Vron showed he’s not just a Cal-bred specialist, rallying from sixth in the 12-horse lineup to win the $400,000 Grade I sprint by a head over Anarchist. Dr. Schivel, the 9-5 favorite, was another head back in third.

It was the eighth straight victory for the 5-year-old gelded son of Vronsky, who earned an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 with the victory. The previous wins were all against fellow Cal-breds. His second stakes victory against open company (he won the Grade III Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in June 2021) was his 13th win in 17 starts and pushed his career earnings over the $1 million mark ($1,032,678).

Spirit of Makena, sent postward as the 4-1 second choice in the wagering, broke slowly and had trouble on the turn for home. Joe Bravo did not persevere with the 5-year-old in the stretch and he finished last.Final time for the 6 furlongs was 1:09.24.

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Dodgers’ Joe Kelly hoping to unlock better results after exit from Chicago

• July 30, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Joe Kelly would have traded himself and Lance Lynn, too.

On the day the 35-year-old right-hander joined his new – and old – team, Kelly was more than understanding of the circumstances that led the Chicago White Sox to trade him back to the Dodgers on Friday for outfielder Trayce Thompson and minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure.

The Dodgers activated Kelly for Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds and designated pitcher Phil Bickford for assignment in a corresponding move. Lynn is expected to arrive Sunday, then start Tuesday or Wednesday against the Oakland A’s.

By then, the Dodgers will have completed their post-trade deadline roster transformation. Meanwhile, the White Sox will have finished their teardown, having committed to rebuilding after falling more than 10 games out of first place in a weak American League Central.

For Kelly, getting traded was a case of “no hard feelings” – or, rather, no feelings at all.

“I don’t have as much attachment as most people,” he said. “I lack empathy. I’ve heard that multiple times. I don’t get sad at things that make other people sad. I don’t shed tears when other people should shed tears. If I was running a team, the White Sox, I think they’re doing exactly what they need to do. You’ve got free agents, or guys with options – stuff you can get back, build for a new season, add to your team in the future, I think it’s smart to do.”

Kelly emerged as a fan favorite in three seasons with the Dodgers (2019-21), which culminated with a World Series ring in 2020.

Kelly signed with the White Sox as a free agent following the 2021 season. He posted a 5.59 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 74 appearances over the past two seasons. But he has 41 strikeouts in 29 innings this season and has held batters to a .228 average.

“I think all my numbers on the periphery are the best of my career,” he said. “Best velocity. It’s one of those things you really can’t control. You can control ERA, but sometimes it’s out of your hands.”

Asked about his uptick in velocity – Kelly’s fastball is averaging 99.0 mph this season, matching his 2017 peak – he theorized that “I’ve put my body in better positions mechanically.” He also acknowledged that collaborating with the Dodgers’ pitching coaches could help unlock results he was unable to achieve in Chicago.

Lynn has struggled this season, too. His 6.47 ERA is the highest among pitchers with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. He also led the AL in hits allowed (130) and MLB in home runs (28) and earned runs (86) allowed at the time of the trade.

“There’s a lot of smart people here where, maybe they’ll show him something that he didn’t even realize or know he was doing wrong,” Kelly said. “Maybe mechanically or the way he was holding his fingers. … It’s going to be fun to watch him get re-energized a little bit.”

Bickford, 28, was originally claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers in May 2021. He went on to post an excellent 2.50 ERA and 1.033 WHIP in 56 appearances out of the Dodgers’ bullpen. In two seasons since then, Bickford has a 4.89 ERA while rarely appearing in high-leverage situations.

OREL HISTORY

Orel Hershiser was inducted into the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in a pregame ceremony Saturday. A three-time All-Star, Hershiser is best known for authoring a streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings, pitching the Dodgers to upset victories in the National League Championship Series and World Series, and winning the NL Cy Young Award in 1988.

Hershiser is now in his 10th season as the Dodgers’ primary color commentator on SportsNet LA, nearly matching his 13 seasons with the Dodgers as a player. While Hershiser has spoken often about his heroics in 1988, the story of how he embarked on a broadcasting career that ultimately led back to Los Angeles has never been told.

Hershiser began contemplating his post-playing career options long before he retired. He would sometimes observe spring training games from the television truck in the parking lot at Vero Beach. He practiced game broadcasts on top of the Holman Stadium press box with teammate Jerry Reuss, who also turned to broadcasting in retirement.

After four years as a pitching coach and front office assistant for the Texas Rangers, Hershiser had an opportunity to continue under first-year General Manager Jon Daniels in 2006. At the urging of his wife, Dana, Hershiser called ESPN’s Chris Berman, with whom Hershiser had already broadcast some Little League World Series games for ESPN.

“(Berman) called Norby Williamson, who was in charge of baseball programming for ESPN. And within a day I was packing up that office and going to ESPN,” Hershiser said.

After eight years as a color analyst with ESPN, Hershiser joined SportsNet LA in 2014.

ALSO

Clayton Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game against teammates as he attempts to return from a shoulder injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that as long as Kershaw remains asymptomatic, he is a candidate to rejoin the rotation without a minor league rehabilitation start. …

Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with soreness in his right ankle. Roberts said Betts suffered the injury Friday when he twisted out of the way of an inside pitch. …

Roberts said Lynn, Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin are scheduled to start in the three-game series against the Oakland A’s in some order.

UP NEXT

Cincinnati Reds (RHP Graham Ashcraft, 5-7, 5.64 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Michael Grove 2-2, 6.19 ERA), Sunday, 1 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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USWNT faces Portugal with Women’s World Cup future still up in the air

• July 30, 2023

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States heads into its final group match at the Women’s World Cup with questions swirling about the team’s tactics.

U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski started the same lineup against the Netherlands on Thursday that he rolled out for the opening match against Vietnam. While it was enough for the United States to beat the Vietnamese 3-0, it was less successful against the stronger Dutch, and the Americans settled for a 1-1 draw.

That lineup had never played together before the World Cup.

The tie meant that the United States will likely need a more decisive outcome on Tuesday against Portugal to finish atop Group E and secure a favorable path in the knockout round. Going into the game, advancing out of the group wasn’t a given for the two-time defending World Cup champions.

In addition to the same starters, Andonovski made just one substitution in the game against the Dutch, bringing on midfielder Rose Lavelle to start the second half. But no fresh legs were subbed in even after players showed fatigue. Forwards Lynn Williams and Megan Rapinoe remained on the sidelines.

He was asked about the strategy afterward.

“I just didn’t want to disrupt the rhythm at that point because sometimes a substitute comes in and it might take a minute or two to get into a rhythm,” he said. “We just didn’t want to jeopardize anything because I thought all three of our forwards were very good, dangerous, created opportunities and were a handful.”

It was the first time that the United States had made just one or fewer substitutions in a World Cup game since 2007.

Known in 2019 for jumping on World Cup opponents early, the Americans did not score against the Dutch until the second half when they were already down 1-0.

Lavelle is one of the team’s top midfielders and made an immediate impact in the game — boosting the energy and feeding the attack — and the United States looked like that 2019 championship team again. She served up a corner kick to Lindsey Horan, angry about getting knocked down by a Dutch player moments before, for the game-tying goal in the 62nd minute.

Lavelle had a knee injury going into the World Cup and hadn’t played since April. She’s been on a minutes restriction and Andonovski has been starting Savannah DeMelo, one of the teams’ 14 players making their first-ever appearance in the World Cup.

DeMelo hadn’t played in a match with the national team until the send-off game against Wales in San Jose, the day the team departed for the World Cup.

“I think we weren’t in sync,” midfielder Andi Sullivan said. “That happens, and we were able to adjust and respond. Hopefully, we can do that earlier in the future. And I think that’s also a great strength of this team — we have lots of different ways we can do that together.”

Andonovski said the team can build off that second half against the Dutch in Wellington.

“Even though it didn’t finish the way we wanted to finish I thought it was a very good match for our team and especially for a group of young players. They grew throughout the game, individually, but also as a team we grew throughout the game as well,” Andonovski said. “I’ve said this before, this team is not just young. This team is also a fresh team that hasn’t spent a lot of minutes together. What you saw in the second half is what you’re going to see going forward as a best baseline. I think that we’re just going to get better from game to game and we’re gonna be a lot more efficient as well.”

Portugal fell 1-0 in its opening match against the Dutch, then defeated Vietnam 2-0 on Thursday in Hamilton. The victory knocked Vietnam out of the next round.

The United States sits atop Group E, even on points — four — with the Netherlands but edging the Dutch on goal differential. Portugal, third in the group with three points, could leap in front of the U.S. with a win at Auckland’s Eden Park.

The Dutch play Vietnam in an earlier game Tuesday in Dunedin.

Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth each scored in the match against Vietnam, which made history as Portugal’s first win in its first World Cup appearance.

“We are aware of what awaits us, but we are focused on ourselves, which is very important,” Nazareth told reporters at training on Saturday. “We will enter the field respecting the opponent, with humility, but always with character and personality. The work will be there, the talent is there. And I think you also always need a little bit of luck. It’s believing.”

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Costa Mesa police investigating after swastikas found spray-painted on car

• July 30, 2023

Costa Mesa police are investigating after a car at an apartment complex was spray-painted with swastikas this week, authorities said.

The vandalism, which also included slashed tires and a broken back window, occurred in the 1700 block of Santa Ana Avenue sometime between 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 and 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, Costa Mesa police said in a Saturday statement.

A photo of the car has been circulating on social media, with a Tweet about it under the profile, StopAntisemitism.

No this isn’t 1939 Germany but Costa Mesa, CA 2023.

Residents of the Ava apartment complex woke up this morning to find a car spray painted with swastikas.

Antisemitism and hate based incidents are sky rocketing in California and throughout the United States as a whole. Those… pic.twitter.com/hFBVYyDawe

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 28, 2023

Roxi Fyad, a spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Police Department, said police do not have a suspect description in the case. Officers took a report and investigators processed the scene.

“We condemn this act of vandalism and the use of this abhorrent and hurtful symbol,” the police department said in its statement.

An audit of Antisemitic incidents in 2022 by the Anti-Defamation League showed there were 518 incidents in California, a 41% increase from 2021. Only New York had more, with 580 incidents last year.

Of the California incidents, 178 involved vandalism, according to the audit.

Nationwide, acts of Antisemitic vandalism were up 51% over 2022, with those involving swastikas specifically up 37%, according to the ADL.

Anyone with information regarding the Costa Mesa crime is asked to call police at 714-754-5205.

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Home audio: Try these inexpensive speakers for outdoor listening

• July 30, 2023

My wife, Patti, likes to listen to music while she gardens in the backyard. She can listen through her phone’s speakers, but even though modern smartphone speakers have gotten better, they’re still not that great, especially at loud volumes. So, to allow Patti to listen to music or audiobooks while picking blueberries and watering her tomatoes, I decided it was time to get a portable Bluetooth speaker.

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There are many to choose from, including several high-end products costing $200 or more. Some of these might be the right choice for use in the home, but background music while gardening isn’t exactly critical listening, so I opted to try out some inexpensive models. To my surprise, I was able to find several good choices for under $50. I found one decent one for $29. These are the current prices. I got mine for a lot less during Amazon’s Prime Day sale.

All of them can easily connect to a smartphone or any other device capable of driving Bluetooth speakers or headphones. All have rechargeable batteries, and the ones I tried out all have a USB power connector that uses the same “power brick” as smartphones.

There are two types of USB connectors used in today’s speakers. One is an older MicroUSB plug, but the plug I prefer is the newer-style USB C connector. MicroUSB, which is pretty much being phased out, was once the standard for Android phones. But now, USB C has become the standard for most new products, except iPhones and iPads, in the United States. And it’s been reported that Apple will adopt USB C in future US iPhones and iPads. USB C is also emerging as a standard for laptops from many companies, including Apple.

After testing several speakers, I settled on the $42 Sony SRS-XB13. A very close runner-up was the $50 stereo Soundcore 3 by Anker. I was also impressed by the $42 Soundcore Anker Mini 3. The fourth-place contender was the $29 stereo Raymate Bluetooth Speaker.

I also tried out the older $39 Anker Soundcore 2 stereo speaker, which has a MicroUSB connector. If you don’t care about USB C, then definitely consider saving money on the otherwise excellent Soundcore 2.

All the speakers I tested are water resistant, and the Sony is also dust resistant. All are likely to survive a brief dunk in water or an errant spray from Patti’s garden hose. All of these speakers advertise long battery life, ranging from 15 to 24 hours, although there is often a significant difference between advertised battery life and what you get in real life.

The Sony model and the Soundcore Anker Mini 3 are round monaural speakers that resemble a miniature subwoofer but handle the full range of frequencies from high treble to low bass. Frankly, it was hard to pick a winner in terms of sound quality. The Soundcore Mini 3 is a little smaller and slightly lighter, but the Sony comes in more colors and has a longer strap, which made it easy to hang on the handlebar of my bicycle to be entertained on my ride. Earbuds and headphones are illegal on bikes in California if worn on both ears, but I don’t know of any law against a speaker, although I wouldn’t use one on a bike path, out of courtesy to others. It’s also considerate to not disturb others if you’re using a speaker in your yard or a public place.

The Anker 3 and the Raymate have stereo speakers, but because the speakers are fairly close to each other, the sound separation isn’t very prominent, especially if you’re a few feet away. I love stereo, but I didn’t find the stereo on these units to be a compelling reason to buy them unless you plan to be right near the speaker as you listen.

These are just a few of the many options you’ll find if you look on Amazon or other e-tailers websites. I don’t recommend any of them for audiophiles looking for the best possible sound quality, but even though I appreciate high-end sound, I am happy with the quality of these speakers for outdoor use such as at a party or by the pool.

All of these speakers require that you have your smartphone within Bluetooth range, which can vary depending on obstacles, but it will usually cover a backyard. If you’re using your phone on a sunny day, I recommend you keep it away from direct sunlight so it doesn’t overheat. Both iPhones’ SIRI and Android’s “Hey Google” allow you to use your voice to select your music, which can be handy if your hands are busy tending the garden.

If you want an entirely phone-free and hands-free experience, you can opt for an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker connected to an electrical outlet or an external battery, as long as you’re able to connect to a WiFi network. Batteries for some Echo and Nest models start at about $16.

Of course, there is a low-tech alternative. Patti sometimes enjoys silence or the sound of birds chirping as she gardens.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist.

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Taylor Ward injury adds a frightening moment to Angels’ loss

• July 30, 2023

TORONTO —A couple hours after the Angels saw Taylor Ward on the ground with blood dripping from his face, their thoughts were still with their teammate.

Ward was hit in the face by a pitch, requiring attention from multiple trainers and a trip to the hospital, casting a pall over what became the Angels’ 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.

“Anytime anybody gets hit, especially in the face, the first thing you think about is his health and that he’s OK,” Angels first baseman Mike Moustakas said. “Obviously it didn’t really look very good. Hopefully, we get some good news here in a little bit. We’re all praying for him.”

The Angels had no immediate word on the results of tests Ward was undergoing.

It was yet another blow to a team that has dealt with one injury after another all season. The Angels are already without injured outfielders Mike Trout and Jo Adell, infielders Brandon Drury, Zach Neto, Anthony Rendon and Gio Urshela and catchers Logan O’Hoppe and Max Stassi.

Simply losing Ward’s bat from the middle of the lineup hurt them in a practical sense, but losing him in the way they did could not have helped from an emotional standpoint.

Moustakas, who was in the on-deck circle when Ward was hit in the fifth inning, conceded that it’s difficult to remain at the same level mentally after seeing something like that.

“It’s hard, man,” Moustakas said. “Anytime you see anybody get hit, especially like that, it’s hard, but it’s something we had to do. Obviously we didn’t come back and win like we would have hoped. But right now the game’s over. All we can think about is if ‘Wardo’ is gonna be OK or not. That’s where all of our heads are at. All we’re doing is thinking about him and sending him love and positive vibes and hoping everything’s gonna be OK.”

Ironically, the moment that Ward got hit was the most productive moment of the game for the Angels’ offense.

The bases were loaded when Ward was hit, pushing home the first run of the game. There was still only one out, so the Angels had a chance to break the game open. Moustakas then struck out and Matt Thaiss hit a popout.

Reid Detmers then took the mound and gave up a two-run homer to Santiago Espinal. Detmers got one more out and then he was pulled after 91 pitches.

The Angels had a shot to get those runs right back in the sixth, but they left the bases loaded. They also left them loaded in the second inning.

The Angels were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position, after going 0 for 7 on Friday night.

“We just didn’t get that big hit,” said Angels manager Phil Nevin, who watched the game upstairs because he was serving a one-game suspension for his actions toward the umpires after the game Friday. “I think the approach is good. The at-bats are good. We’ve swung the bats so well since the break really. You’re bound to have some down days. I think that’s just what’s what happened. They scored more than we did.”

The offensive outage came just as the Angels arrived in Toronto for a showdown series against one of the teams ahead of them in the wild-card race. The Angels scored two runs in the first two games, losing both and dropping five games behind Toronto. The Houston Astros are 4½ games ahead of the Angels, pending the outcome of their game Saturday.

The Angels will try to avoid the sweep Sunday, almost certainly without Ward in the middle of the lineup.

“We’re a resilient bunch,” Moustakas said. “Minus what happened to ‘Wardo’ today, you never want that to happen to anybody in any sport. It’s just something very unfortunate. But we’re gonna close the book on today. Keep thinking about ‘Wardo’ and sending him love, and come back tomorrow and try to win a game.”

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Gang robbed cars along Angeles Crest Highway at least twice before murders, police say

• July 30, 2023

A street gang robbed multiple drivers parked along the Angeles Crest Highway in the days before the group allegedly killed a 32-year-old man who had stopped off with his passenger to enjoy a scenic overlook, according to authorities.

Detectives from the Pasadena Police Department are now confident they can tie that same gang to “murders and other violent crimes that have occurred in Los Angeles County over the last week.” The department announced the arrest of six members of the gang on Wednesday, July 26, but ended up only bringing robbery charges against three of them. The others were released Friday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleges Luis Ventura, 23, of Los Angeles used a firearm to rob Jessie Munoz, the man killed in the Angeles National Forest, and a female passenger, who was uninjured during the attack.

Two other suspects — Wendy Cerritos, 20, and Rossel Josue Hernandez, 21, both of Los Angeles — were charged with four and two counts of robbery, respectively, in connection with “robberies that occurred on Angeles Crest Highway the week preceding Munoz’s murder,” according to Pasadena police. Those robberies, which involved four different victims, occurred on July 18 and July 20.

No one has been charged with Munoz’s murder, but the robbery charges give Pasadena’s Robbery/Homicide Unit more time to compile the larger case in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as state law requires suspects to be charged or released within 48 hours of their arrest.

“RHU detectives are actively piecing together the elements and evidence related to the homicide of Jesse Munoz and working with LASD Homicide to ensure those responsible for the violence receive justice,” a spokesperson wrote in a press release.

The homicide case is expected to be reviewed by prosecutors this weekend and additional charges could be filed on Monday.

Pasadena is coordinating with sheriff’s detectives in an effort to tie the same gang members to a double homicide in Rancho Palos Verdes that occurred two days after the Angeles Crest Highway slaying. In the that case, three males allegedly approached a Subaru owned by Jorge Ramos, 36, as it was parked in a lot overlooking Pelican Cove. The men opened fire on Ramos, killing him and his passenger, TaylorRaven Whittaker, 26.

A four suspect, believed to be a woman, waited nearby as the getaway driver, sheriff’s Detective Ray Lugo told the Los Angeles Times.

The Sheriff’s Department will file its case separately with the District Attorney’s Office, though the cases still could be combined at a later date.

Pasadena identified the suspects and their vehicle through the use of an undisclosed technology, according to police. The department’s SWAT team, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and the LAPD, arrested the original six suspects late Tuesday, July 25 after using helicopters to tail them across Los Angeles County.

Police boxed in the car in Panorama City and ordered the suspects out, one at a time, at gunpoint. Key News Network posted a recording of the arrest on YouTube.

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Working like a dog in Laguna Woods

• July 30, 2023

To many of us, puppies are irresistible, and the energetic little yellow lab jumping happily at a visitor is no exception.

“No jumping,” commands Penny Gordon. “No jumping,” the Laguna Woods Village resident repeats, sternly but gently, in her role as the dog’s trainer or, specifically, puppy raiser.

Responding to his noble name, Newcastle, the little guy obeys. After all, he is in uniform: He’s wearing a green and white harness that identifies him as a guide dog for the blind in training.

When Gordon retired from nursing two years ago, she wanted to continue life in the spirit of her career.

“I still wanted to do something good for someone else in need,” she said.

After some deliberation and online research, she contacted Laguna Niguel Puppy Raisers, deciding that helping to raise puppies to be future guide dogs for the vision-impaired fit with her goal of helping others.

It wasn’t too far off a choice: David Gordon, her husband of 22 years, is blind. He has had the help of several guide dogs, and now Dewey, a calmly alert German shepherd, lies protectively at his feet.

At the same time, Dewey patiently puts up with Newcastle nuzzling his older, temporary bro.

“They are bonded already,” Penny Gordon said.

Puppy Raisers are volunteers who teach puppies basic obedience, house behavior and socialization. After Gordon contacted the Laguna Niguel branch of Puppy Raisers, the organization did research of their own, found her to be a fit foster mom and paired her with Newcastle.

“First I had to prove myself by puppy-sitting five other puppies and showing that I was patient and a good dog handler before getting Newcastle,” Gordon said. “Not having a fenced-in yard but only a patio was not a deal breaker.”

The group’s goal is to get puppies ready to graduate to Guide Dogs for the Blind, a school founded in 1942 to assist World War II veterans who had lost their sight. Today the school has two campuses, in San Raphael, California, and in Boring, Oregon.

Gordon got Newcastle when he was just two months old. Now he is about seven months old.

“I watch him grow and mature, having gone through his terrible twos and now his teenage years, which begin around six to seven months,” she said. “I will have him for six more months.”

Gordon takes Newcastle everywhere she goes – to grocery stores, offices, even restaurants – where he must learn to behave properly. Newcastle can romp by the creek, but he’s not allowed to do his doggie business there. That gets done at home. There’s also no petting by passers-by.

“They have to concentrate on their job, but when he’s got his gear on, he acts his part already,” Gordon said.

There’s one drawback to raising puppies, Gordon noted: You get attached to the four-legged youngsters.

At age 14 months or perhaps a bit later, Newcastle will leave to start his next phase of training, on the campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind, either in San Raphael or Boring, to prepare to be placed with the visually impaired.

Jeanne Valenti, a leader at Laguna Niguel Puppy Raisers, said that once Newcastle settles at one of the campuses, he will begin his training as a guide dog for the blind. Coming from an as yet untested litter, he will also be neutered.

Should he not make the cut as a guide dog, he might have a future as a service dog for the hearing impaired or a diabetic’s companion trained to smell if a patient is in danger of experiencing sugar shock. He could also become a service dog for someone suffering from PTSD.

“All dogs are free to their recipients,” said Valenti, who has raised service puppies for 17 years. “Guide dogs for the blind are the cream of the crop, since they have to guide blind people through potentially hazardous settings like traffic.”

David Gordon summed up his reaction to his wife’s first experience as a puppy raiser: “I was a little apprehensive at first,” he said, “but it’s turning out to be a lot of fun – a great experience.”

Laguna Niguel Puppy Raisers is a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers. To join the ranks of puppy raisers, call Valenti at 949-280-5464 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit gdblagunaniguelpuppyraisers.com.

New job for new working dog

Laguna Woods Globe readers last read about Moby, a blond Labrador, in March 2022, when he was being raised by Village resident Penny Flaherty.

The youngster was working hard to learn basic obedience, house manners and socialization so that he would be ready for training at the Guide Dogs for the Blind school.

Now Moby has finished that training, and he’s landed his first job – in a vegan bakery in Beaverton, Oregon. Moby will be helping out Carina Comer, the visually impaired owner of Carina’s Bakery.

Flaherty, meanwhile, is raising a new dog, a somewhat older lab named Ian.

– By Anita Gosch

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