Fast Enough Rallies to Take California Cup Derby
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Fast Enough wins the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park
A 4 1/2-furlong first-out maiden winner May 31, Craig Martin's homebred Fast Enough rallied late to collar longshot Sacred Rider and win the $200,500 California Cup Derby by a neck Jan. 18 under Tiago Pereira, who collected his second stakes win of the day at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by Rafael Becerra, Fast Enough, a 3-year-old gelding by Eddington, got 1 1/6 miles in 1:45.23.
The Cal Cup Derby is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Golden State Series is for California-bred or -sired horses.
About five lengths off the lead midway around the far turn, Fast Enough rallied five deep turning for home and gradually gained the advantage with about 30 yards to run.
Off at 9-2 in a field of nine, Fast Enough paid $11.60, $8.60, and $5.80.
Out of the Bertrando mare Brilliant Melody, Fast Enough is 2-for-2 with earnings of $149,000.
Sacred Rider, who shipped south from Golden Gate Fields, was an attentive third early, and when pacesetter Bettor Trip Nick tried to slow the pace heading up the backside, he stayed clear of any traffic trouble while about three lanes off the fence.
Off at 36-1 under Abel Cedillo, Sacred Rider, who finished five lengths in front of Bettor Trip Nick, paid $28.20 and $11.
Ridden by Catalino Martinez, Bettor Trip Nick, who was off at 7-2, paid $4.80 to show.
Video: California Cup Derby (BT)
Showtime Unleashes Furious Rally to Win California Oaks
With a recent minor illness a concern, Benjamin and Sally Warren’s homebred Warren's Showtime assuaged any doubts as to her readiness with a powerful stretch kick that resulted in a runaway 3 1/2-length win in Saturday’s $202,000 California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.
Ridden by apprentice Jorge Velez and conditioned by Craig Lewis, the 3-year-old chestnut filly by Clubhouse Ride got one mile on turf in 1:36.50.
Breaking from post 5 in a field of 12, Warren’s Showtime was a reserved fifth at the rail, about four lengths off the lead at the three-furlong pole. She hugged the rail while unleashing a devastating turn of foot through the lane in what was arguably the most impressive win on the day.
“She’s got a terrific turn of foot and it helped her today,” said Lewis, who conditioned Warren’s Showtime’s sire and dam, Warren’s Veneda. “It got a little tight around the turn, but the jock waited and the rail opened up and we got through. She had a fever and we had to back off for a while. I’m hopeful that we haven’t got to the bottom of her potential yet …
“This sire has kept me alive. We are reaping the benefits of the offspring. He's a wonderful sire for California and we couldn’t be more excited about the future with him.”
Third in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs on dirt Nov. 1, Warren’s Showtime, whose dam was a grade 1 stakes winner at Santa Anita, was off at 4-1 and paid $10.20, $4.80, and $4.20.
“She’s got a really good late kick,” said Velez, who has ridden Warren’s Showtime in all six of her starts. “She likes to run inside, so it makes it easier to save ground …This is my biggest win and I feel really happy to have the opportunity.”
A winner of Santa Anita's Surfer Girl Stakes two starts back, Warren’s Showtime now has two stakes victories and three wins from six overall starts. With the winner’s check of $110,000, she now has earnings of $236,271.
Bulletproof One, who set the early pace, was off at 7-2 with Ruben Fuentes and paid $4.60 and $4 while finishing a neck in front of Warrior's Moon.
Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Warrior’s Moon was off at 21-1 and paid $8.40 to show.
Fractions in the race were :23.14, :48.11, 1:12.78, and 1:24.75.