Eight following California Chrome lead to California Cup Derby

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Eight 3-year-olds have been entered in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in an effort to duplicate the performance of 2014 winner California Chrome.

The 1 1/16-mile stakes began California Chrome’s historic 2014 campaign that led him to victories in the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies as well as the Preakness Stakes and had him become Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old.

Leading the field is trainer Don Warren’s Acceptance. The colt, owned by E. W. and Judy Johnston and Robert Riggio, will start from post 2 with Elvis Trujillo again riding.

Acceptance is undefeated in three career starts including the Golden State Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita and the King Glorious Stakes on Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos, the same stakes California Chrome won to conclude his 2013 season.

Acceptance has banked $257,600, making him the leading money earner in the field.

King Glorious runner-up Pulmarack has drawn post 7 and will have Eclipse Award winner Drayden Van Dyke in the saddle. The colt is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams with Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer conditioning.

Pulmarack broke his maiden his third time out at Santa Anita on Oct. 17 and eight weeks later dropped a three-length decision in the King Glorious. He has earned $74,100.

The complete field for the Cal Cup Derby in post position order: Tough Sunday, Tyler Baze; Acceptance, Elvis Trujillo; Mischief Clem, Kent Desormeaux; Neveradoubt, Joe Talamo; Kluszewski, Rafael Bejarano; Chanito, Brandon Boulanger; Pulmarack, Drayden Van Dyke and Avati Bello, Mike Smith, 117.

The Cal Cup Derby has an approximate post time Saturday of 5:30 p.m. ET.

Categorized in: Horses