Leading California owner Jed Cohen dies aged 89

Jed Cohen had to round up a bunch of friends to buy his first racehorse in the early 1960s because no one had the necessary $2,500. Wayward Jenny ran like a $2,500 purchase, and when her trainer recommended Jed purchase a goat to calm her down, Jed thought he'd acquired the wrong kind of animal.

"We bought a goat, but the goat outworked the horse," Jed once recalled. "We should have spent $2,500 on goats. We had it backwards."

Cohen, whose family races in the name of Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, the current leading owners at Del Mar, died on Sunday in Del Mar at age 89. Cohen in the past few years had battled illnesses, but he enjoyed watching his horses race, whether at the track or from home.

The stable has been particularly successful recently. Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, which won the final race at Del Mar on Saturday with Percolate, has excelled at buying horses in training in Europe and bringing them to the US.

In addition to leading the current Del Mar standings, Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal led all owners at the 2022 Santa Anita Park autumn and winter meetings. The family's stable includes Packs A Wahlop, winner of the October 9 Zuma Beach Stakes.

Son Tim Cohen manages the stable these days, but Jed founded the operation decades ago. While their most successful stakes winners have come from Europe, they have also bred many good runners at their Rancho Temescal in Piru, California.

River Boyne was one of many European-bred success stories for the operationCredit: Benoit Photo

Jed grew up in New York and learned to love racing from his father, Harry, who often followed the races at Belmont Park. Jed moved to California in 1959 and became a successful investment banker and advisor. He always wanted to own racehorses, especially after Wayward Jenny won a $3,500 claiming race at Santa Anita in 1961.

Cohen's experience with California-breds dates to the time of George A. Pope Jr, who owned 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine. Cohen bought Domineering, a son of Determine, from Pope after the horse won the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. Domineering was a multiple stakes-placed runner in California.

"Domineering was the first really important horse, though all of them are important," Jed said. "Domineering was a different quality horse than I had ever been able to get."

One of Cohen's best horses was millionaire Janet, who raced for him in the name of Red Baron's Barn. Trained by Darrell Vienna, Janet won the 2001 Grade 1Ramona Handicap and Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

Other stakes winners that Cohen has raced, often in partnerships, include millionaires River Boyne, winner of the 2020 Frank E Kilroe Mile and six other stakes, and Itsinthepost, winner of the 2018 Charles Whittingham Stakes, 2017 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes, and six other stakes. Jeff Mullins conditioned both runners.

With trainer Mark Glatt, Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal raced Sharp Samurai, another millionaire and graded stakes winner. Glatt also trains Dr Schivel for Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and William Branch. Winner of the 2020 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, Dr. Schivel finished second in the 2021 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Jed instilled a love of horses into his children, Tim, Mark, and Linda. It continues not only with the racing stable, but also with thoroughbred aftercare. Many of their runners have gone on to good second careers, and Jed was instrumental in saving Suances.

Jed bought Suances privately in France before the 2000 Prix Jean Prat, which the colt won. At Arlington Park prior to that summer's Secretariat Stakes, Suances kicked a stall door, severing a tendon and nearly ending his life.

"Certainly, I wanted to save him," Jed said. "It wouldn't have mattered whether he was a cheap horse or an expensive horse."

Jed and Vienna's efforts allowed Suances to return to the races. Suances won the 2002 San Francisco Breeders' Cup Mile Handicap, defeating eventual multiple graded stakes winners The Tin Man, Sarafan, and Decarchy, and Suances also won that year's Dallas Turf Cup Handicap. Following his racing career, the horse later stood at Rancho Temescal until his death in 2019 at age 22.

In addition to his three children, Cohen is survived by his wife, Bobbie, and grandsons Cole and Cody. Tim Cohen said that a celebration of life will be held in the new year.

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