Cal Cup

Benoit Photo
$175,000 John C. Mabee Cal Cup Mile
A TO THE Z

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2004) – A to the Z set a stakes record in winning Saturday’s $175,000 John C. Mabee California Cup Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Benchmark is out of the Replant mare Green Again, was bred by Sentinel Thoroughbred Farms and is owned by Andy or Paula Capestro. Paula Capestro is the trainer and he was ridden by Victor Espinoza.

“What I’d really like to point towards is the Sunshine Millions,” said Paula Capestro. “We’ll see how he comes out of the race, but with how I’ve built him up I think he will be in pretty good condition.”

He ran the mile on turf in 1:33.44, breaking the Cal Cup Mile record of 1:33.48 set in 1991 by Shirkee and tied in 1996 by Half Mamoon.

“At the half mile, I couldn’t hold him anymore,” said Espinoza. “I had so much horse that at the three-eighths pole I just let him go and in no time I opened up four or five lengths. It was so easy.”

This was the fourth win in 18 starts for A to the Z, who was running for a $25,000 claiming tag in 2002 then was sidelined for 10 months. He won the Sunland Park Handicap on a sloppy track in April, was third in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap in June and most recently was second in an Aug. 27 optional claimer.

The 5-2 second choice, A to the Z finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Hemet Thought, with even-money favorite Stage Player third. A to the Z is a half-brother to previous Cal Cup Starter Handicap winner Fade to Blue. Red Warrior was pulled up after crossing the wire and was vanned off.

Defending champion Lennyfromalibu scratched.