Clubhouse Ride perseveres to win Californian Stakes

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Clubhouse Ride, ridden by Joe Talamo, outfought odds-on favorite Fury Kapcori down the stretch to successfully retain his crown in Saturday’s $200,000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Craig Lewis, Clubhouse Ride broke from the inside post at 6-1 in the seven-horse field. The 6-year-old chestnut horse trailed the field through the early going of the 1 1/8-mile stakes.

Fury Kapcori, the 1-2 favorite, set the pace up the backstretch and into the far turn as Clubhouse Ride began to advance along the inside. The defending winner joined the leaders entering the stretch with Fury Kapcori still leading.

With a furlong to run, Clubhouse Ride joined Fury Kapcori on the lead and the two battled to the wire. Clubhouse Ride edged ahead of Fury Kapcori just yards before the finish and was able to post a half-length victory over the favorite.

Finishing third was Majestic Harbor followed by Majestic City, Storm Fighter, Handsome Mike and Fly Lexis Fly. Sky Kingdom was scratched.

The time for the Californian was 1:48.74 on a fast track.

Owned by Six-S Racing Stable and Nikolas Petralia, Clubhouse Ride won for the first time since claiming last year’s Californian on June 1. This year’s victory was worth $120,000 to bring the 6-year-old’s career earnings to $1,220,132. Clubhouse Ride has won five of 37 lifetime starts with eight seconds and 10 thirds.

Last month, Clubhouse Ride was fourth in the Charles Town Classic. Also this year he was third in both the San Carlos Stakes and Santana Mile, and fifth in the Joe Hernandez Stakes.

Clubhouse Ride returned $15.00, $4.40 and $3.00. Fury Kapcori paid $2.40 and $2.10, and Majestic Harbor paid $3.00 to show.

Categorized in: Horses