2002 Cal-bred News

Distance is New for Cal Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2002) - The $100,000 TVG California Cup Distance Handicap, which drew a field of 11 for its inaugural running Saturday, is a lucrative change from the race it replaced, the $50,000 Cal Cup Distaff Starter Handicap.

Both races were restricted to fillies and mares 3 years and up, but the Distance will be run at 1¼ miles on the turf. The Distaff Starter was run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf last year and was won by Lil Sister Stich, who is running in this year's Distaff.

This year's race provides a showcase for the rivalry between Dena's Diamond and Nicole's Pursuit.

Dena's Diamond was a runner-up to Nicole's Pursuit in an Oct. 9 1 1/8-mile turf allowance race. She's a 4-year-old daughter of Corslew, out of the Cozzene mare Ten Carat Diamond, and was bred by Clay Murdock and William Foltz. In her only previous turf race, she dead-heated for second in the California Sires Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Nicole's Pursuit is a 3-year-old daughter of Flying Continental, out of the Pirate's Bounty mare Forest Haven, and was bred by Allan Fainberg and Arnold Feuerstein. She won the 1-1/8 mile allowance turf Oct. 9, her second grass win.

Bob's Lady is an improving 3-year-old daughter of Pirate's Bounty, out of the Flying Paster mare Lady Engineer, and was bred by Oakcrest Stable. She is coming off her first stakes win, the Sept. 23 CTBA Marian Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Fairplex Park.

Sunset Serenade is a 4-year-old daughter of General Meeting, out of the Sharpen Up mare Royal Blue Bell, and was bred by John and Betty Mabee. She won an Oct. 4 mile race on the turf for Cal-breds.

Shalini is by Urgent Request, who won big races at Santa Anita. She is out of the Falstaff mare Code It Nikki and was bred by Briere Thoroughbreds. Her four races before the CTBA Marian were at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The other entrants are: Barely Daylight, Sweet Frippery, Ste. Pecheresse, First Draft, Calzada Kid and Exclusiveandcatty.