Cal Cup

Benoit Photo
$250,000 Cal Cup Classic
COZY GUY

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2004) – Longshot Cozy Guy edged away from fellow 3-year-old Lava Man in the last 50 yards to score a popular three-quarter length victory for trainer Dan Hendricks in Saturday’s featured $250,000 California Cup Classic at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Cozy Guy is by Alphabet Soup, out of the Rambo Dancer mare Lambent, was bred by John Zamora and is owned by Hayes, Hayes, Higman et al. He was ridden by Corey Nakatani and is the third 3-year-old to win the Classic, joining College Town (1994) and Charmonnier (1991).

“This really picks us up,” said Hendricks, paralyzed in a July 7 motor bike accident. “We had a slow summer and a little bit of a setback but the horses started running well at the end of Del Mar and there we are, winning the Classic.

“My owners have been great to me. They’ve stood behind me from the beginning of this problem and it’s great to have them here and to win this big race for them.”

This was Cozy Guy’s fifth win in 14 starts and nearly doubled his career earnings to 302,820. A $42,000 Keeneland purchase, he was claimed out of his second start for $40,000 and was coming off a second in the Sept. 25 Pomona Derby.

His winning time of 1:47.70 is the second-fastest in race history.

“Today he was so handy and was right where I wanted him to be the whole race and I set him down at about the eighth pole and he just scooted away from them,” said Nakatani. “It gives you a great feeling when a horse is moving that good under you.”

Anziyan Royalty was third and favored Excess Summer was eased across the wire and finished last. Kedington, second in the race last year, and Yougottawanna, also were eased. Tizbud, running for the first time since winning this race last year, finished fifth. Calkins Road, winner of the race in 2002, was fourth.