Cal Cup

Kedington Covets the Classic

By Steve Anderson
Daily Racing Form

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kedington finished second to Tizbud in the $250,000 California Cup Classic last November - not bad for a horse who had been claimed for $16,000 seven months earlier.

This year, much of Kedington's season has been geared toward Saturday's renewal of the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita, a race that trainer Rafael Becerra feels Kedington can win in an upset.

After making three starts from January to April 1 this year, Kedington was given a rest to prepare for the fall. He returned to finish third in an allowance race over a mile on turf on Oct. 2, losing by three lengths.

The loss did not bother Becerra. He saw the allowance race against open company as a prep race.

"He's sharp and he's coming along really good," Becerra said. "I'm happy with the way things came out. The main track is his best surface."

Winless in his last six starts, dating back to an allowance race at Fairplex Park in September 2003, Kedington has made five starts since the 2003 California Cup Classic. He finished third in the On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park last December, and was second in an allowance race at Santa Anita in late January. Two races later, Becerra decided to interrupt Kedington's campaign.

"He had too many races," Becerra said. "I said, 'Let's kick him out and give him some time off."'

Since the comeback race on Oct. 2, Kedington has not had a workout. Becerra said this was by design.

"I won't work him," Becerra said. "I'll leave it as it is. That's why I put him in that race, to get a race into him."

Owned by Kassie van Doren, Kedington is a closer. In the 2003 Cal Cup Classic, Kedington rallied from seventh in the final quarter-mile to finish three lengths behind Tizbud. Since then, Tizbud has not started.

Becerra thinks he may have an edge against Tizbud, because Kedington has had a recent start.

“That's a lot to ask," off a layoff, Becerra said. "I do think they need to run once, especially when you go in a stakes."

Tizbud and Kedington aren't the only two horses worthy of consideration in the Classic, which is run over 1 1/8 miles. The two top-weights at 120 pounds - Excess Summer and Yougottawanna - are capable of winning.

Excess Summer has made two starts this year, finishing second in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic in January and third in the Governor's Cup Handicap over 6 1/2 furlongs at Fairplex Park last month. He is expected to be favored.

Yougottawanna, who won the 2001 California Cup Juvenile, won the Governor's Handicap at Sacramento on Aug. 28, his second stakes win of the year. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Yougottawanna represents one of the few northern California invaders expected for Saturday's 10-race California Cup program.

The presence of Excess Summer and Yougottawanna may help Kedington, who carries 114 pounds. They both have speed, and a fast pace would help Kedington's late kick.