Cal-bred News

Cal Cup XVI Recap

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2005) – Dream of Summer became a millionaire and McCann’s Mojave ran like one as they led the parade of winners in Sunday’s $1.325 million California Cup XVI on closing day at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Dream of Summer, a daughter of Siberian Summer bred by owner Jim Weigel, became the newest California-bred millionaire with a repeat win in the $150,000 CTT/TOC Cal Cup Matron.

McCann’s Mojave, a son of Memo bred by owners Alex Nikki Hunt and Mike Willman, stretched his sprinter speed over 1 1/8 miles for a game victory in the featured $250,000 Cal Cup Classic, presented by Smith Barney.

Memo sired a pair of winners on the card, McCann’s Mojave and Bordonaro, who took the nightcap $50,000 William T. Pascoe III Cal Cup Starter Sprint.

Moscow Burning, a daughter of Moscow Ballet bred by Harris Farms and Ken Maddy Trust and owned by Bullseye Racing, came off a 6 ½-month vacation to score her second win in three years in the $100,000 TVG Cal Cup Distance Handicap.

Jet West, a son of Western Fame bred by Applebite Farms and owned by Bruce Hochman, scored a nose win in the $150,000 Dodge Ram/Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint.

Drake’s Victory, a son of Victory Gallop bred by co-owner Dana Levy, exploded in the lane to win the $175,000 John C. Mabee Cal Cup Mile.

Lightly raced Tempting Date, bred by Old English Rancho and owned by Adam & Paul Lewis, defeated millionaire Valentine Dancer in the $150,000 CTT/TOC Cal Cup Distaff.

In the 2-year-old races, the $125,000 Robert H. Walter Juvenile Fillies was won by Bai and Bai, a daughter of Falstaff bred by Mares’ Nest and owned by Vinson & Wilson.

The $125,000 Bob Benoit Cal Cup Juvenile was won by Brite Maneuvers, a son of High Brite bred by Curtis Jones and owned by Howard Roberts Farm. The Juvenile was marred by a stretch spill that sent jockey Paul Atkinson to the hospital, but he was released with no broken bones.

The XTRA Sports 570 Cal Cup Starter Handicap was won by Time to Honor, a son of Honor Grades bred by David and Marion Christensen and owned by Beardsworth or Decauwer or Lurie.

The $50,000 William T. Pascoe Starter Sprint was won by Bordonaro, who was bred by owners Fred Carillo and Daniel Cassela. Bordonaro ran the six furlongs in 1:08.11, one-half second faster than Jet West ran in winning the Sprint.

On-track attendance was 22,194 compared to last year’s 24,450, while on-track handle was up from $3,594,925 a year ago to $4,380,496. Inter-track wagering dropped from $5,151,745 to $4,054,710. Total attendance went from 36,552 last year to 34,439 and handle went from $15,626,665 last year to $15,389,513.