The California Cup at Santa Anita Park debuted in 1990 as a “World Collection” for horses bred within the Golden State. The occasion encompasses a sequence of stakes races – 5 on Saturday – with the California Cup Derby for 3-year-olds serving as its centerpiece.
Cal Cup Historical past and Origin
The primary California Cup passed off in 1990 at Santa Anita. The primary winner of the California Cup Traditional – since moved to the autumn as a stand-alone occasion – was My Sonny Boy, bred by Previous English Rancho and skilled by Invoice Spawr.
California thoroughbred breeding farm staple Previous English Rancho remains to be actively breeding thoroughbreds and stays a major pressure in California’s horse business, although they shaped a joint working settlement with Harris Farms round 2018.
The Cal Cup was created by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Affiliation (CTBA) and modeled after the Breeders’ Cup however restricted to horses sired by California-based stallions or horses foaled within the state.
Whereas primarily held at Santa Anita, editions had been moved to Hollywood Park whereas it was nonetheless in operation throughout years when Santa Anita hosted the Breeders’ Cup.
California Cup Dash Provides Thrilling Betting Choices
The $125,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Dash Stakes for 4-year-olds and up might be contested at 6 furlongs and serves as a key showcase for speedsters within the Golden State sequence. It’s the second race on the day with a 4 p.m. ET submit time.
The race is called after Donald “Don” Valpredo, a distinguished California horseman, breeder, proprietor, and racing commissioner who performed a pivotal function in establishing the California Cup sequence in 1990.
High contenders embody final 12 months’s winner, Large Metropolis Lights, who’s returning for his third begin after a 10-month layoff following his 7 ¾-length win a 12 months in the past. Corridor of Famer Richard Mandella trains the $22,000 son of Mr. Large, who gained the 2024 Palos Verdes Stakes (G1), for proprietor William R. Peeples. Jockey Mirco Dimuro has the decision.
Man O Rose, a 6-year-old gelded son of Stanford, is driving a three-race win streak – all Cal-bred stakes. He’s one other who spent an excellent a part of final 12 months on the sideline although he gained all three of his races in 2025 and returns for his fourth begin of his return for coach Jeff Mullins. Common rider Edwin Maldonado might be again within the saddle.
E book Sensible can be a gelded son of Stanford, and the 7-year-old Bob Hess Jr. trainee has struggled a bit in three latest stakes outings, his final win relationship again 4 begins to allowance firm at Del Mar in the summertime. He does profit from having Corridor of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard and figures to select up an honest test at sq. odds with a clear journey.
Uncommon Warmth Turf Traditional Honors State’s High Sire
The Uncommon Warmth Turf Traditional Stakes is a $175,000 contest for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles over Santa Anita’s grass course. The race honors Uncommon Warmth, a California sire who dominated the state’s breeding ranks from 2004-2012, producing versatile winners on filth, turf, and artificial surfaces. He was inducted into the CTBA Corridor of Fame in 2018.
Eight are entered. The Turf Traditional is race 5 with a 5:30 p.m. submit time.
Main contenders embody Hey Jessie, a 4-year-old filly trying to rebound from a dismal displaying within the Crimson Carpet Stakes (G3) final out. The daughter of Grazen gained the Soviet Downside Stakes at Los Alamitos on filth 13 months in the past however carries a pleasant turf dash stakes win – with a pleasant velocity determine – into this occasion. Sean McCarthy trains the grey filly, who breaks from the rail underneath jockey Mike Smith.
Mr. Disrespectful, by the late California main sire Smiling Tiger, rides a two-race allowance win streak into this occasion (after a DNF as a result of he tossed his rider on the break) and has earned robust velocity figures. Jockey Hector Berrios returns for coach Craig Dollase in the hunt for a primary stakes win, although he has placings, and the pair will break from gate 2.
None Above the Legislation is an 8-year-old gelding by Karakontie with earnings of greater than $670,000 from seven profession wins. Skilled by Peter Miller, he’s making his first begin since Could of 2025 and is a graded stakes winner, having gained the 2021 Del Mar Derby (G2), which makes him a significant risk if he’s in prime type. He ran on this race in earlier years, ending seventh final 12 months and fifth in 2024, so he might want to enhance to be an element.
The 5-year-old mare Cease Digging can be coming off a latest elective claiming win in January 2026, nevertheless it was on the filth at a mile. She steps up in school and has to interrupt from the skin, which might be an issue entering into her most popular place, stalking the tempo, however she needs to be match and able to deal with the boys. Armando Ayuso rides for Simon Callaghan.
Sunshine Thousands and thousands Filly & Mare Turf Dash Showcases High Fillies
The $125,000 Sunshine Thousands and thousands Filly & Mare Turf Dash is contested at 6 ½-furlongs down Santa Anita’s distinctive hillside turf course. This occasion is built-in into the California Cup program however originates from the Sunshine Thousands and thousands sequence launched in 2003, which options rivalries between Florida-bred and California-bred horses.
Grand Slam Smile, who drew submit place 3, is the main contender based mostly on consistency and sophistication. A flexible a number of stakes winner with 9 wins in 16 begins and profession earnings over $753,000, she enters the race following a win within the Betty Grable Stakes in November. Her confirmed observe file makes her the seemingly best choice for coach Sean McCarthy and jockey William Antongeorgi.
Issa Courtroom is skilled by Robert B. Hess, Jr., and this mare completed a powerful second to Grand Slam Smile within the Betty Grable in her final out. She additionally completed a half-length behind one other prime horse, Sneaker, within the California Distaff Handicap final October, suggesting she is a constant and severe challenger. Hector Barrios rides, and the pair breaks from submit 9.
Sneaker, skilled by George Papaprodromou, beforehand defeated Grand Slam Smile when successful the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course in October. She provides blinkers for this race, which could enhance her efficiency, and has robust velocity scores.
Tina Turner is in sharp type, coming into the race off an allowance elective claiming win in December. Whereas stepping up in school, the Steve Knapp trainee has a successful momentum, which makes her a contender.
The 5-year-old mare Prancingthruparis is making her first begin since August, however she has stakes-winning expertise and is a winner in opposition to state breds in stakes firm again in March. If she returns in prime form, she might take this contest at what everybody hopes might be an honest value.
9 will head postward at 7:30 p.m.
California Cup Oaks Highlights Potential Kentucky Oaks Runners
The Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks is for 3-year-old fillies set at a mile on turf. This occasion is an early-season take a look at for rising skills within the Golden State Collection and infrequently a steppingstone to greater races, such because the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
The race is called in honor of Leigh Ann Howard, a former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Affiliation and a driving pressure behind selling Cal-breds who died in 2020.
Sturdy contenders embody Cashed coming off a powerful second-place end within the Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos in December. Skilled by Doug O’Neill, she might be attempting turf for the primary time, however her high-level filth efficiency suggests important class that ought to translate effectively.
Cecilia Avenue, skilled by Leonard Powell, has a win going a mile on the turf at Del Mar and not too long ago gained a state-bred allowance race at Santa Anita. Her confirmed expertise and success on the turf course make her a stable contender.
Too Sassy is a stakes winner who has been a constant performer within the state-bred ranks. Whereas coming off a poorer end in a high-level stakes race in October 2025, her prior type suggests she has the flexibility to compete strongly on this discipline.
Put up time is at 6:30 p.m. PT, race 7 on the nine-race card.
California Chrome Cal Cup Derby: Path to Kentucky Derby?
The California Chrome Cal Cup Derby is a $175,000 race for 3-year-olds set to be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the primary observe and is positioned as a key prep for potential Kentucky Derby hopefuls inside the state’s restricted program. It’s named after California Chrome, the long-lasting Cal-bred who gained the 2014 Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1), capturing this very race throughout his Horse of the 12 months marketing campaign.
Ocean Bear, a ridgling son of Bolt d’Oro skilled by George Papaprodromou, gained the Golden State Juvenile Stakes and carries one of many prime velocity scores within the discipline. With jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard, his robust latest efficiency makes him a number one contender.
The I’ll Have One other colt Smoovin Saturday, who’s skilled by Michael McCarthy, is unbeaten in two begins, together with a latest win within the King Wonderful Stakes at Los Alamitos a month in the past. His excellent file suggests he holds a ton of upside, particularly in opposition to this discipline of fellow Cal-breds.
John Sadler trains the stakes winner Sammy Davis, who completed second within the Golden State and has persistently run effectively in stakes firm. He’s a confirmed performer at this degree, and the son of Sir Prancealot will carry jockey Hector Barrios from submit place two.
Because the eighth of 9 races, the function is about to go away the gate at 7 p.m.
The writing crew at US Racing is comprised of each full-time and part-time contributors with experience in numerous features of the Sport of Kings.
