Cal Cup

Entries Drawn for Cal Cup XV

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2004) – Ninety-eight of California's finest Thoroughbreds are set to compete in 10 stakes worth $1,325,000 in purse money as the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Oak Tree presents California Cup XV Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Saturday's forecast calls for sunny skies, full fields and a multitude of wagering opportunities, including a guaranteed $1 million Pick 6 and a guaranteed $500,000 Pick 4.

The day's capstone race is the $250,000 California Cup Classic. This year's Classic sees the return of the last two winners-Tizbud and Calkins Road--along with eight other challengers.

Tizbud, a full brother of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, was the surprise 10-1 winner of last year's Classic and is running for the first time since last year's victory. Tyler Baze will ride the 5-year-old son of Cee's Tizzy for the first time.

Cee’s Tizzy leads all stallions represented with eight progeny entered on the card.

"We're happy to be back," said Tizbud's trainer John Sadler, who has won three Cal Cup races. "Cal Cup is a great day and we've done very well through the years."

Sadler does not appear concerned about the lengthy layoff. "We gave him a lot of long workouts," he said. "Plus with this horse, the thing that helps him is he has a lot of natural stamina. He can run a long distance. He's probably best at a mile and a quarter but (the Cal Cup Classic distance of) a mile and an eighth is well within his range."

Returning 2003 Classic winner Calkins Road ran seventh in last year's edition, but is coming off an Aug. 7 victory in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes at Santa Rosa.

Excess Summer, trainer Jeff Mullins' powerful 4-year-old who won four stakes in 2003, will run his first major race in 10 months as the morning-line favorite in the Classic. Excess Summer has had only a 6 1/2 furlong prep since running second in the Sunshine Millions Classic last Jan. 4, but his impressive resume was enough for odds maker Jeff Tufts to put him at 5-2.

Five-year-old gelding Yougottawanna, who runs for the Bay Area's top trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and perennial leading rider jockey Russell Baze, is the highest earner in the field and the only graded stakes winner. He will attempt to win the Classic three years after his first Cal Cup triumph, an upset victory over 2-5 favorite Officer in the 2001 Cal Cup Juvenile.

The field for the Cal Cup Classic, which will go as the eighth race: Tizbud, Tyler Baze, 117 pounds, 6-1; Intuit, Garrett Gomez, 114, 20-1; Excess Summer, Gary Stevens, 120, 5-2; Yougottawanna, Russell Baze, 120, 9-2; Calkins Road, Rene Douglas, 117, 6-1; Lava Man, Jon Court, 112, 20-1; Kedington, Omar Figueroa, 114, 8-1; Cozy Guy, Corey Nakatani, 112, 15-1; Commander's Flag, Victor Espinoza, 115, 8-1; Anziyan Royalty, David Flores, 116, 6-1.

One of the day's most anticipated race is the $150,000 TOC/CTT Cal Cup Matron, which will feature several graded stakes winners in one of the strongest fields in the Cup's 15-year history.
There are only six scheduled starters in the Matron, but it could be the day's most competitive race. Yearly Report, winner of the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes eve and the Grade II Del Mar Oaks for trainer Bob Baffert, heads the field. Baffert has not won a Cal Cup race since taking the Juvenile with Ex Marks the Cop and the Matron with Fun in Excess in 1997.

Last year's winner Royally Chosen will return to defend her title. The 6-year-old mare has won two stakes races in the past year and will be ridden by David Flores for trainer Bruce Headley.

They will contend with red-hot Dream of Summer, who has won four-straight races including a pair of graded stakes for trainer Juan Garcia. Dream of Summer will have regular rider Mike Smith in the saddle.

The Matron, which goes as the third race, lines up as follows: Bit of Folly, Alex Bisono, 111 pounds; Dream of Summer, Mike Smith, 121; Royally Chosen, David Flores, 120; Bartok's Blithe, David Cohen, 115; Yearly Report, Corey Nakatani, 120; and Summer Wind Dancer, Victor Espinoza, 122.

Jeff Mullins has won just one Cal Cup race but will probably have several to his name very soon. He saddles Summer Wind Dancer, yet another major contender in the Matron, and Stage Player in the $175,000 John C. Mabee Cal Cup Mile. Stage Player has won six of his last seven, winning the California Turf Championship at Bay Meadows in his last start. Stage Player will have seven challengers, including the Mile's defending champion LennyfromMalibu.

The day begins with the $100,000 TVG California Cup Distance Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles. The $125,000 Budweiser California Cup Juvenile, at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds, features a field of eight including Top Money, undefeated winner of the I'm Smokin' Stakes at Del Mar. The $150,000 Dodge Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint, a six-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up, features trainer Kristin Mulhall's Cheiron, winner of the Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park. Baffert saddles Western Hemisphere in the $150,000 John Deere Cal Cup Distaff, which will be run on Santa Anita's famous downhill turf course at about 6 1/2 furlongs.

The final stakes and the final leg of the $1 million Pick 6 and the $500,000 Pick 4, will be the $125,000 Robert H. Walter Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies, which will feature a field of 13 going 1 1/16 miles.

First post time is 12:30 p.m.