Smokey Image Dominant in Cal Cup Derby

A homebred California-bred chestnut, with blinkers on and Victor Espinoza in the irons, broke away from the field to win the $250,000 California Cup Derby Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park.



Sound familiar?



But Irvin Racing Stables' Smokey Image—who set the pace and cruised home to win the 1 1/16-mile dirt test Saturday by 8 1/2 lengths—has something over California Chrome  , who emphatically announced his presence with a 5 1/2-length score in 2014's edition of the race. Smokey Image is undefeated.



"It feels wonderful—very, very wonderful," said winning trainer Carla Gaines, who took over conditioning duties for the Southern Image   colt in November, after Greg James trained him to a perfect five-for-five record at 2. "I was hoping (for something like that). My quick conditioning had me a little worried, but the horse had done everything so easily, we just decided to try this company first going two turns, then jump into deeper company this time."



Gaines said earlier in the week that this would be the colt's first true test—trying two turns for the first time—after winning at distances of five to seven furlongs for James, and he passed with flying colors. Espinoza pushed Smokey Image to the lead entering the first turn, ran fractions of :23.49, :47.48, and 1:11.63 through six furlongs, then opened up an eight-length lead in the stretch and galloped home to hit the wire in 1:43.49.



"It looks like he did two turns, right?" Gaines said. "I wasn't quite sure (if he'd go to the lead). In a few of his races sprinting, he broke a bit awkwardly. I just didn't want to get into a speed duel on the front end his first time going two turns. When my other little horse (Record Highs) went with him at first, I said 'Come on, guys. Back up.' But it settled into a nice pace for him."



Espinoza never even thought about bringing the whip out and even geared Smokey Image down in the final moments.



"I was very impressed," Espinoza said. "For me, it doesn't matter if he's a Cal-bred or not. I just look at it like a horse that can have potential. He can have a future the way he's built and the way he runs. The way he ran today, he showed me he can go the distance. He showed me he can run with any horse."



Tough It Out rallied from last in the seven-horse field to finish second, 6 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Xingontothebone.



Sent off the 2-5 favorite, the winner paid $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10 across the board. Tough It Out brought $5.40 and $3.80, and Xingontothebone delivered $4.80 to show.



Gaines said the March 12 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), with Road to the Kentucky Derby points on the line, should be next for Smokey Image, but his other connections are already thinking ahead to May.



"We have the Kentucky Derby on our minds," said Diane Irvin, daughter of owner Betty Irvin. "We're getting there. We'll evaluate the calendar and see what he's ready for, but certainly his performance today indicated we might have something more special."



A race earlier, Pacific Heat was equally impressive in the $200,000 Xpressbet California Cup Oaks. The daughter of Unusual Heat stalked early leader Roo's Valentine in the mile turf stakes, blew by in the final turn to win by 5 1/4 lengths at odds of 4-5 for trainer Peter Eurton. With jockey Flavien Prat aboard, Pacific Heat finished the mile in 1:35.75 on firm turf.



Also on the lucrative state-bred stakes slate, Sunday Rules set the pace and held off a challenge from Raised a Secret to win the $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes at 9-5 odds.

In the seventh race, Velvet Mesquite won her sixth race in 12 starts down the Santa Anita hillside turf course in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint. Off as the 5-2 favorite, the In Excess mare won the 6 1/2-furlong grass race by 1 3/4 lengths.

The featured $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic went to 4-1 What a View, who won the 1 1/8-mile grass race by 3 1/4 lengths over defending champion Alert Bay.