Cal Cup

Mabee Tradition Continues at Cal Cup

RAMONA, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2004) -- Grade II-winning filly Yearly Report heads a group of Golden Eagle Farm fillies and mares expected to line up for competition for California Cup XV at the Santa Anita at Oak Tree meeting on Oct. 16.

Yearly Report, a 3-year-old bay filly by General Meeting out of Fiscal Year, won the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico in May and could emerge as the strongest favorite on the 10-race Cal Cup card when she contests the $150,000 TOC/CTT California Cup Matron Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Cal Cup features 10 races for all divisions of California-breds with purses totaling $1.325 million. In addition to on-track, wagering on Cal Cup will be available at more than 30 simulcast locations throughout the state.

Cal Cup also will be televised by Television Games Network (TVG), which is carried on Dish and DirecTV satellite systems, as well as major cable providers.

The rich purses historically result in full fields and competitive betting races. Among the exotic wagers available are a $1 million guaranteed Pick 6 and a $500,000 guaranteed Pick 4. Those attending on track will also receive a promotional Cal Cup blanket.

The influence on Cal Cup of the Mabee Family and their Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona has been profound and another stakes-winning 3-year-old General Meeting filly will be carrying their colors this year. Western Hemisphere, out of Excellent Lady, figures to attract strong support in the $150,000 John Deere Cal Cup Distaff Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course.

Both Yearly Report and Western Hemisphere were bred by John and Betty Mabee, decades-long partners in the thoroughbred business until John died at the age of 80 on April 24, 2002.
Though his legacy continues, Mabee’s passing has resulted in some changes in the way horses bred and owned by the Mabees are registered.

Daily Forecast is a 2-year-old Event of the Year filly, out of Nautical Look, who will run in the $125,000 Robert H. Walter Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Her breeder is listed as Mrs. John C. Mabee, as are all other Golden Eagle homebreds of 2002 and 2003. Golden Eagle foals of 2004 and henceforth will be listed as having been bred by Mrs. John C. Mabee and the Mabees’ son, Larry.

Similarly, the Mabee Family Trust will be listed as the owner of future Golden Eagle Farm foals.
“It gets a little complicated,” Betty Mabee said at the Ramona farm. “But we’re as involved as ever in the business.”

Daily Forecast finished second for $80,000 at Del Mar in her maiden voyage. Like most of the 2-year-old Golden Eagle runners this year, she was late getting to the races.

“That was by design,” said Janine McCullough, who is approaching her first anniversary as the farm’s business manager. “We saw no reason to hurry any of them into training.”

Event of the Year ranks second to the late Free House among second-crop sires in California. In addition to Daily Forecast, the 9-year-old stallion will be represented by Waving Flags, out of Flag of Freedom, in the Cal Cup Distaff.

“We’re very happy with the year Event of the Year has had,” McCullough said of the Seattle Slew colt who was denied his opportunity to run in the 1998 Kentucky Derby when he sustained a training injury five days before the race, “Especially since he’s only had about half the starters of some other stallions on the list.”

Grand Appointment, a 6-year-old Unbridled horse, out of Grand Sophisticate, is scheduled to represent the Mabees and Golden Eagle in either the $250,000 Cal Cup Classic at 1 1/8 miles or the $150,000 Dodge/Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint at six furlongs.

Though no Golden Eagle runners were nominated to the one-mile race, the family’s impact on the Cal Cup is recognized through the naming of the $175,000 John C. Mabee Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

-- Larry Bortstein