2002 Cal-bred News

Ninebanks, Spinelessjellyfish Head Cal Cup Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2002) -- With last year's winner Native Desert sitting out the 2002 California Cup, Ninebanks and Spinelessjellyfish are the most likely to succeed among the 15 horses nominated for this year's $175,000 John C. Mabee Cal Cup Mile on the Santa Anita turf Nov. 2.

Bred by John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery of Free House and Came Home fame, Ninebanks captured the San Matean Handicap and California Turf Championship over the Bay Meadows lawn before running second to a rejuvenated David Copperfield. The 4-year-old Smokester gelding is now owned by Peter Abruzzo.

Cardiff Stud Farms' homebred Spinelessjellyfish narrowly lost to Native Desert in a thrilling Mile that was voted Race of the Meet at last year's Oak Tree meeting. Although he is winless in 2002, the 6-year-old son of Skywalker has plenty of back class and was third in both the California Turf Championship and Grade I Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile earlier this year.

Jerry Frankel's homebred Joey Frankel brought a four-race winning streak and a victory in Del Mar's El Cajon Stakes into the Grade III $400,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park, but finished out of the money to Perfect Drift. The 3-year-old son of Avenue of Flags has never gone beyond a mile or run on the turf.

Oak Crest Stable's homebred Waingarth captured the Real Good Deal Stakes last year at Del Mar. More recently, the 4-year-old Slewpy gelding was third in a one-mile allowance on the turf at Del Mar on Sept. 7 and finished fourth to Resolve in a seven-furlong allowance event on Oak Tree 's opening day.

Bred by Fred Sahadi and owned by Nico Nierenberg, Adminniestrator captured the 1 1/2-mile Quicken Tree Handicap in April on California Gold Rush Day at Hollywood Park. The 5-year-old son of Incinderator has recently placed in some allowance optional claimers on the turf.

Campaigned by co-breeder Madeline Auerbach, Lennyfromalibu broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on Aug. 12. The 3-year-old son of Unusual Heat recently captured a 6 1/2 furlong allowance race on the turf at Santa Anita, scoring by two lengths under Laffit Pincay Jr.

Also entered are Surprise Halo, Swordfish, Turkish Prize, Wolfwithintegrity, Flying Rudolph, Dixe Law, Sea to Sea and White Cloud. Bonair Lake is also eligible.