SATURDAY'S CALIFORNIA CUP CLASSIC BY RACING NEWS

 

 

Enriched Tops Field In California Cup Classic; Liberian Freighter, Colgan’s Chip Rematch In Mile

Racing News

 

 

 

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 27, 2010)—Enriched will try to do something Saturday at Oak Tree/Hollywood Park his half-brother Lava Man was unable to accomplish.
Specifically, win the $150,000 California Cup Classic Presented by City National Bank.
The Classic, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles over Cushion Track, is the richest of seven stakes races for California breds to be contested as part of the 21st California Cup.
Post time is 1 p.m. Saturday. There is a California Cup T-shirt giveaway per paid admission while supplies last.
A three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup, Lava Man was defeated in two Classic appearances. The gelding’s best finish was a second behind Cozy Guy in 2004.
Owned by W.C. Racing, Westside Rentals.com and Neil Haymes, Enriched, a 5-year-old High Brite gelding out of the Nostaglia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Leonard, has won seven of 22 and earned $512,656. He is among eight entered in the Classic.
Three of Enriched’s wins have come in 13 starts since he was claimed for $32,000 by his current connections – including trainer Doug O’Neill – Nov. 1, 2009. Enriched became a graded stakes winner when capturing the Del Mar Mile Handicap, a Grade II, Aug. 28.
Fifth in the Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 9 at Keeneland, Enriched is seeking his second victory over Cushion Track. His only win in four starts here came by 7 ¾ lengths against $80,000 maidens May 8, 2009.
Unusual Suspect will be looking for his first win in his 13th start of 2010. The 6-year-old Unusual Heat horse out of the Crested Wave mare Penpont has won eight of 53 in his career with earnings of $855,171.
Owned by David, Dyan and trainer Barry Abrams, Unusual Suspect has lost 15 in a row since his 24-1 upset in the Cougar II Handicap Aug. 5, 2009 at Del Mar.
Low Gear Power will aim for the richest victory of his career for trainer Mike Mitchell, who won the 2006 Classic with Texcess.
Owned by a partnership that includes Jim Ford, the 4-year-old All the Gears gelding out of the Incinderator mare Breeze Gal has won five of nine since being claimed for $12,500 June 26, 2009 at Hollywood Park.
Overall, the gray has six wins in 19 attempts and banked $165,114. Low Gear Power won over Cushion Track in July, his first start of 2010.
Trained by Victor Garcia for Lucky Charm Stable, Cayambe enters off a 25-1 surprise in the Ralph M. Hinds Handicap Sept. 26 at Fairplex Park. The win was the ninth in 37 starts for the 6-year-old Helmsman gelding out of the Restless Con mare Pacaya. He has earned $360,976. The win in the Hinds, which is the same distance as the Cal Cup Classic, was his third in six races since he was claimed for $25,000 July 31, 2009 at Del Mar.
The field also includes Lodi Red, who has yet to win over synthetic, Mobilized, who is 0-for-2 in two turn races, My Boy Walsh, looking to become the first 3-year-old to win since the aforementioned Cozy Guy, and Soul Candy, who will be racing for the first time on something other than turf.
The Classic is the ninth of 10 races.
From inside out, the lineup for the Cal Cup Classic: Unusual Suspect, Patrick Valenzuela rides, 116 pounds; Enriched, Joel Rosario, 123; Mobilized, David Flores, 116; My Boy Walsh, Mike Smith, 113; Low Gear Power, Joe Talamo, 118; Lodi Red, Martin Garcia, 113; Cayambe, Alonso Quinonez, 120 and Soul Candy, Rafael Bejarano, 118.
Liberian Freighter and Colgan’s Chip, who finished a nose apart when running 1-2 in the Oak Tree Mile, a Grade II, Oct. 9, will square off again in the $100,000 John C. Mabee California Cup Mile Presented by TVG.
Owned by Shawn Dugan, breeder King Edward Racing Stable and Charles Winner and trained by Neil Drysdale, Liberian Freighter was 22-1 when winning the Oak Tree Mile. The victory was the eighth in 22 outings for the 5-year-old son of Bertrando and the Slewpy mare Anachristina. He has earned $571,740. Liberian Freighter was third behind Swift Winds and Bold Chieftain in this event in 2008.
Trained by Jenine Sahadi for Green Lantern Stables LLC, Colgan’s Chip has won four of 12. The 5-year-old Cee’s Tizzy gelding and the Theatrical mare Leaning Tower has banked $212,712. Sahadi has two previous wins in the Mile. Both were with Megan’s Interco (1993, 1995).
Bruce’s Dream, who is 3-for-3 in races restricted to California breds, has won five of seven overall and earned $233,940 for owner-breeder Bruce Corwin and trainer Mike Puype. The 4-year-old gelded son of Atticus and the Smokester mare Remember Dorothy defeated Colgan’s Chip by a head when winning the California Dreamin Handicap July 25 at Del Mar.
From inside out, the field for the grassy California Cup Mile: Tiz Argent, Joel Rosario rides, 115 pounds; Pop’shandsarehot, Corey Nakatani, 116; Colgan’s Chip, Brice Blanc, 118; Jiggly, Patrick Valenzuela, 116; Bruce’s Dream, Joe Talamo, 120 and Liberian Freighter, Martin Garcia, 123.
Lady Railrider will look to become the second repeat winner – joining Dream of Summer (2004-2005) – in the $100,000 TOC/CTT Cal Cup Matron.
Owned by breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Steve Specht, Lady Railrider won by nearly two lengths in 2009. The 5-year-old Ride the Rails mare, who has won seven of 20 and earned $413,180, will have six opponents. The Matron is run at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track.
Her rivals include Camille C and Ultra Blend.
Owned by Carlos Polanco and trained by Marcelo Polanco, Camille C won the Melair Stakes earlier in the year on California Gold Rush Day. The 3-year-old Roman Dancer filly and the Rahy mare Paris Operetta has three wins in 15 tries. Her bankroll is $287,551.
Ultra Blend will be making her first start around two turns on a synthetic surface in the Matron. The 4-year-old daughter of Richly Blended and the Desert Classic mare Ankha has won five of 15 for owners Nels Erickson and trainer Art Sherman.
From inside out, the field for the Cal Cup Matron: Camille C, Martin Garcia rides, 117 pounds; Warren’s Jitterbug, Patrick Valenzuela, 117; Tiz Smoke Tiz Fire, Joe Talamo, 113; Catsalot, Brice Blanc, 118; Ruffled Feathers, Victor Espinoza, 118; Ultra Blend, Joel Rosario, 119 and Lady Railrider, Frank Alvarado, 116.
The day’s opener is the $100,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint. Cost of Freedom, a Grade I winner for owners Gary and Cecil Barber and trainer John Sadler, tops a field of five in the race at six furlongs over Cushion Track.
A 7-year-old Cee’s Tizzy gelding out of the Moscow Ballet mare Freedom Dance, Cost of Freedom collected his biggest win in the 2009 Ancient Title at Santa Anita. An earner of $692,263 – most of it since he was claimed for $50,000 by the Barbers in July, 2008 – Cost of Freedom will be making his first start in a race restricted to state breds since he finished second in the Tiznow Stakes April 27, 2008 at Hollywood Park.
Sadler is aiming for his third Sprint win, having tallied with Valiant Pete in the inaugural running (1990) and Ceeband (2001).
Goggles McCoy, who has yet to lose in four races around one turn, cuts back in distance for owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Shapiro and trainer Steve Sherman.
The 3-year-old son of In Excess and the Slew City Slew mare Swahili Song finished fourth as the 3-2 favorite in his first try past seven furlongs in the El Cajon Sept. 3 at Del Mar. Goggles McCoy has earned $126,160.
Rounding out the Sprint field are A Lil Dumaani, a six time winner making his second start since being claimed for $62,500 by Peter Miller for the Barbers, My Summer Slew, who won the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap over the Hollywood Park turf in his last local start June 27, and Runaway Bandido.
From inside out, the field for the California Cup Sprint: Cost of Freedom, Joe Talamo rides, 123 pounds; A Lil Dumaani, Martin Garcia, 116; Goggles McCoy, Russell Baze, 119; My Summer Slew, Alonso Quinonez, 120 and Runaway Bandido, Victor Espinoza, 116.
U R All That I Am, who won a pair of California bred stakes during the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet earlier in 2010, is among eight fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 John Deere California Cup Distaff. The race will go at six furlongs on turf.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for owner-breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, U R All That I Am won both the B Thoughtful Stakes and Fran’s Valentine in the spring. The latter victory came on the grass.
A 4-year-old Valid Wager filly out of the Fort Calgary mare Fort Silver, U R All That I Am has nine wins in 19 starts. She has earned $358,219.
Trainer Eric Kruljac is scheduled to run a pair in Money Lover and La Nez.
Owned by breeder Rancho San Miguel, Money Lover, a 4-year-old Marino Marini filly and the Unbridled mare Affordability, will be making her initial start on turf. She has won two of seven and banked $105,740.
La Nez, a 3-year-old daughter of Storm Creek and the Iz a Saros mare Iza Bay has won three of 12. She has earned $261,000 for A&R Stables LLC and Class Racing Stable. One of La Nez’s wins came in the 2009 California Cup Juvenile Fillies.
From inside out, the field for the California Cup Distaff: Perfect Vintage, Rafaqel Bejarano rides, 118 pounds; Ms. G.I. Jane, Chad Schvaneveldt, 116; Money Lover, Joe Talamo, 120; U R All That I Am, Joe Talamo, 120; I Can Hear, Martin Garcia, 115; U Turn Me Crazy, Russell Baze, 115; Ruination, Patrick Valenzuela, 116 and La Nez, Victor Espinoza, 119.
The two remaining stakes are for 2-year-olds. Eight fillies are entered in the $75,000 Robert H. Walter California Cup Juvenile Fillies while nine will go in the $75,000 Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile. Both are at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track.
Bob Baffert, who won the inaugural Juvenile Fillies in 1990 with Theresa’s Pleasure, will send out recent maiden winner Queenie Marini. Her rivals include Swiss Wild Cat, who won the CTBA Stakes July 23 at Del Mar for owner-breeder Heinz Steinmann and trainer Mike Harrington.
From inside out, the field for the California Cup Juvenile Fillies: Warren’s Idol, Patrick Valenzuela rides, 120 pounds; Excellent Point, Jose Verenzuela, 120; Warren’s Flyer, Martin Pedroza, 120; Queenie Marini, Martin Garcia, 120; Arta B Tappin, David Flores, 117; California Nectar, Rafael Bejarano, 120; Swiss Wild Cat, Victor Espinoza, 120 and Table for One, Joe Talamo, 120. Warren’s Idol and Warren’s Flyer will race coupled.
O’Neill, who won the 2009 Juvenile with Bench the Judge, will seek another victory with Jailbird Jimmy.
The son of Momentum and the Formal Gold mare Farnham has one win in six starts for owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam and has earned $31,820.
The Juvenile field features four last out winners – Contemplated, Warrens Good Storm, Woodmans Luck and Slammer Time.
From inside out, the field for the California Cup Juvenile: Contemplated, Joel Rosario rides, 120 pounds; Mr. Gennaro, David Flores, 120; Bluegrass Reward, Russell Baze, 120; Warrens Good Storm, Pedro Arambula, 120; Woodmans Luck, Joe Talamo, 120; Slammer Time, Rafael Bejarano, 120; Jailbird Jimmy, Patrick Valenzuela, 120; Luckarack, Frank Alvarado, 120 and Joy Boy, Corey Nakatani, 120. Luckarack and Woodmans Luck are coupled.