$250,000 Cal Cup Classic, Presented by Smith Barney Preview

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2005) -- Texcess (In Excess-Danish Alamode, by Regal Classic) could become the first Cal Cup runner to win both the Juvenile and Classic. He also can be the third 3-year-old in the past four years to win the richest Cal Cup event.

Lava Man, last year’s Cal Cup Classic runner-up and winner of the 2005 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, could start in the Classic or ship out for the $2 million Japan Cup Dirt in late November. But trainer Doug O’Neill could also be well represented in the Cal Cup Classic by Thor’s Echo (Swiss Yodeler-Helen of Troy, by Mr. Integrity), a 3-year-old who has won the Snow Chief at Hollywood Park and the Real Good Deal at Del Mar.

Other possible Classic runners are Cheroot (Smokester-Triple Connection, by Far North), a winner on both dirt and grass who also is being considered for the Cal Cup Mile, and Desert Boom (Boomerang-Seed Dance, by Desert Wine), who has won the Grade III Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields and finished third in the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup, won by Breeders’ Cup Classic starter Super Frolic.
--Larry Bortstein

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