With all-sources pari-mutuel handle topping $17.2 million, Saturday's California Cup Day at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., was a rousing success both in terms of money bet and an outstanding 10-race card of state-bred racing.
“We were very pleased with field size and the tremendous response from our fans, nationwide,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita senior vice president and general manager. “We averaged 8.1 horses per race and it was great to see so many familiar faces, older horses, geldings and fillies and mares.
“I think that underscores the tremendous horsemanship we continue to see here in California and our fans love it, because they get familiar with these horses and they truly look forward to watching them run and betting on them. On the business side, our overall handle of $17.2 million was the best Cal Cup Day we've had since 2007, so that's very encouraging. We want to sincerely thank all of our owners and trainers for helping to make this happen and hopefully, it provides encouragement as well to our breeders, statewide.”
In terms of performance, several horses stand out, including Brickyard Ride's gate to wire victory in the $150,000 Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint. The defending champion in the race, the 5-year-old so of Clubhouse Ride, who was ridden by Juan is Hernandez, trained by Craig Lewis and owned by his breeder, Albert Pais, stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:09.54 and earned a lofty 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer Phil D'Amato's comebacking Leggs Galore, idle since Aug. 15, successfully defended her title in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint Presented by John Deere, as she motored along with Ricky Gonzalez to win gate to wire by 2 ¼ lengths, getting about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf in 1:12.00. A 5-year-old daughter of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, Leggs Galore, who earned a 95 Beyer, was bred and is owned by William Sims.
Trainer Mark Glatt's lightly raced Aligato was another impressive Cal Cup Day winner, as he rallied powerfully to take the $200,000 Unusual Heat Classic Presented by City National Bank by 1 ¾ lengths, getting a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:48.29. Owned by Double L Racing and ridden by Flavien Prat, who tripled on the day, Aligato, a 5-year-old gelding by Kitten's Joy, got his first stakes win in his fifth career start and earned an 87 Beyer.
The post $17.1 Million Wagered On Santa Anita’s Cal Cup Day Highest Since 2007 Renewal appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
