A Doneraile Court gelding has been making news in Northern California, away from the mainstream headlines.

Pleasure Grounds, bred in California by K & J Farm, made an inauspicious 2-year-old career debut back on Oct. 18 at Bay Meadows, finishing second. A month later, he was three lengths the best in a maiden special weight event at Golden Gate Fields, getting six furlongs in 1:09:40.

In a starter allowance on Dec. 13, Pleasure Grounds made it two straight at Golden Gate, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:10:64 for the six furlongs at odds-on. The talented gelding then made his stakes debut - as a 3-year-old - in the $65,000 Stinson Beach at Golden Gate on Jan. 5. He finished a solid second, beaten just a length.

In his latest, trainer Dean Peterson sent his charge back in a $40,084 allowance/optional claimer at Bay Meadows on Feb. 15. Once again, Pleasure Grounds was much the best, winning by 1 1/2 lengths under Chad Schvaneveldt, who has been his pilot in every race. The clocking for a mile was a solid 1:37:05 and the stakes-placed Pleasure Grounds emerged with a record of 3-2-0 in five starts and earnings of $77,780.