California-bred 3-year-olds get new Derby prep

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – A new stakes race for California-bred 3- year-olds has been added to Santa Anita’s winter racing schedule.

The $250,000 Cal Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles, along with the rest of the California Cup stakes, will go off on Jan. 25. Begun in 1990, the California Cup had been run during the autumn with the Sunshine Millions conducted in January.

“We wanted to merge the Sunshine Millions with the Cal Cup races and offer more what we used to offer of just stakes on Cal Cup Day,” said Doug Burge, executive director of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “The Cal Cup has suffered in the fall from an attendance and handle standpoint. We wanted to find a way to revitalize that.”

The Cal Cup Derby replaces the Juvenile for 2-year-olds. Headlining the program will be a $250,000 Cal Cup Classic on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles.

Other stakes to be run on the program are the $250,000 Cal Cup Oaks for 3- year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, $125,000 Cal Cup Distaff at 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf, $100,000 Cal Cup Sprint at six furlongs on dirt, the one-mile $100,000 Crystal Water for older turf horses and the one-mile $100,000 Valentine Dancer for fillies and mares on the grass.

Categorized in: Horses