$50,000 Cal Cup XTRA 690/1150 Starter Handicap
FADE TO BLUE

Benoit Photo

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2003) -- Fade to Blue, runner-up in the race a year ago by a neck, rallied wide to score a length victory Saturday in the $50,000 California Cup XTRA 690/1150 Starter Handicap at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

The 7-year-old gelded son of Prized, out of the Replant mare Green Again, was bred by Cardiff Farm Management and Lee Anne Aiello. Cardiff also bred Hillwalker, winner of this race in 1995; Incindress, winner of the 1992 Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies; Letthebighossroll, winner of the 1991 Cal Cup Sprint; and was co-breeder of Turkish Prize, winner of last year's Cal Cup Mile.

Fade to Blue was running for a claiming tag as low as $20,000 in July, but with the win added $30,000 to a career bankroll that now totals $313,282. He ran the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:26.46, a race record for the 12 times it has been run at this distance.
It was his sixth win in 48 career starts, but first win in 13 months. He lost to Noble Kinsman last year.

Fade to Blue, the third choice at 3-1, is owned by Richard Englander, trained by Jeff Mullins and was ridden by Victor Espinoza. Mr. Steve was second and Unamedthegame was third.

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