top of page
Writer's pictureTom Dellerba

CAL CUP DERBY- FAMILY AFFAIR

Cal Cup Derby Looks To Become A Family Affair

Twelve of the best state bred horses will line up on Sunday to go 1 1/16th miles in the California Cup Derby. Lucky Pulpit leads the way with three chances to win the race by siring Hardboot, Lucky Romano and Faversham. The latter might turn out to be his best shot as he is a full brother to previous California Cup Derby winner as well as Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. Having only started once before in a significantly shorter sprint race, which he broke bad but came rushing up only to fall short of another Cal Cup Derby contender, Violent Ridge. Faversham with long strides and plenty of stamina influence from the bottom of his pedigree with outstanding broodmare Numbered Account being heavily present from two different progeny lineages. He should really enjoy the added distance and two turns will allow him to show his class.

A trainer who is no stranger to winning the Cal Cup Derby is Bob Hess Jr. winning the race in 2015 with Mischief Clem by Papa Clem. The Hess’s are making this years race a family affair as well with Jr. and Sr. both sending out a runner, while Jr. plans on sending two. Hess Sr. is sending out an already stakes winning horse in Intimidate who two back won the King Glorious Stakes and is three for five overall only finishing off the board one time. Intimidate by Vronsky has been very durable winning on multiple surfaces and distances from 6 furlongs to a mile. Hess Jr. will send out Kaleidoscope Kid giving Papa Clem another shot at teaming up with Hess Jr. to win this race. He won his debut going two turns and followed it up with a 3rd place finish against Hess Jr.’s other entrant Fire When Ready. Fire When Ready was the winner of that race and winner of two out of his three races overall.

Heck Yeah from the Bob Baffert barn will be sent out as the 9/5 favorite with jockey Mike Smith aboard. He has won both of his previous races, one being a maiden special weight sprint on the dirt and the other being a stakes sprint on the turf. Up and coming stallion Violence is well represented by Violent Ridge coming fresh off a maiden special weight sprint victory. Campaigner is one of the most experienced in the field with seven races under his belt and should be coming from off the pace late. George From Tahoe is making a surface change after two nice runs on the turf putting up impressive numbers. Rounding out the field are Continental Divide and Black Site.


6 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page