2003 Cal-bred News

It Should Be a Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2003) -- Past winners Sky Jack and Calkins Road meet in Saturday's renewal of the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Sky Jack won the race in 2000. He is by Jaklin Klugman, out of the Skywalker mare Sky Captive, and was bred by owners Rene & Marge Lambert. The Hollywood Gold Cup winner is coming of a rsounding 6 1/4 length win in the Longacres Mile.

Calkins Road won the race last year at 10-1. But he has run only twice since, finishing seventh in a July 5 allowance and ninth in the Sept. 27 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap. He is by Illinois Storm, out of the Lost Code mare Little Code, and was bred by owners Thomas and Deborah Shapiro.

Mr. Joe C is by Present Value, out of the Agitate mare Windy Tate, and was bred by Cunbari Stables. He has only two wins in 34 starts.
Tizawinner is by Cee's Tizzy, out of the Fit to Fight mare Aurora Winners, and was bred by Judith Lois Carmel. The $150,000 Barretts purchase is making his stakes debut.

Commander's Flag is by Spinning World, out of the Mr. Prospector mare Gay Chiffon, and was bred by John and Betty Mabee. He was third in the Tiznow Stakes.

Red Warrior was added as a regular nomination at a fee of $1,000. He was a $57,000 purchase at the Del Mar Yearling Sale and is coming off second in an Oct. 18 allowance race. He is by Benchmark, out of the Pluggled Nickle mare Sparkling Nickle, and was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds and Kjelstrom.

Tizbud is by Cee's Tizzy, out of the Seattle Song mare Cee's Song and was bred by Cecilia Straub-Rubens. That makes him a full brother to champion Tiznow, millionaire Budroyale and Tizdubai. He is coming off a fourth in an Oct. 2 optional claimer and is looking for his first stakes win.

Hot Market was fifth in this race last year as the 5-2 second choice after rearing and being left in the gate. This is only his second race since that debacle and first in 10 months. He has triple-digit Beyer figures in seven of his last nine races. He is by Cee's Tizzy, out of the Seattle Song mare Time to Plant, and was bred by co-owner Harris Farms.

Kedington is by Seattle Proud, out of the Smokester mare Helen's Hope, and was bred by John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery. Claimed for $16,000, he has five wins this year, most recently a Sept. 21 optional claimer. This is his stakes debut.

Grey Memo was fourth in the race last year as the 5-2 favorite. He is by Memo, out of the Snow Chief mare B. Mozelle, and was bred by co-owner Ridgeley Farm. He is winless since the July, 2002, but was second in the Mar. 29 Godolphin Mile.