1/15 (GG): California Derby
 

7th (3:45) California Derby

1 1/16 Miles (Tapeta) | Open | 3 Year Olds | Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Dancing At Dark R. Baze 116 Lbs J. Sadler - L
2 The Great Caper O. Figueroa 116 Lbs E. Moger, Jr. - L
3 Zayda C. Schvaneveldt 116 Lbs B. Wright - L
4 Bluegrass Reward J. Hernandez 116 Lbs S. Miyadi - L
5 Rule He Must D. Lopez 116 Lbs R. Hansen - L
6 Northern Indy I. Beato 116 Lbs O. Jauregui - L
7 Jakesam F. Alvarado 116 Lbs J. Hollendorfer - L
8 Mr. Candy Bar H. Romero 116 Lbs O. Jauregui Blk-On L
9 Mazarron F. Duran 116 Lbs A. Kitchingman - L
10 Cut Fastball C. Martinez 116 Lbs T. Knight - L
11 Positive Response J. Couton 122 Lbs W. Morey - L
12 Grand Maneuver L. Mawing 119 Lbs D. Velasquez - L

California Derby
 

Looks like a nice field. Any thoughts. Seems to be a few horses that need the lead?

Once upon a time, this was a G2 race, run at 9f in the month before the Kentucky Derby. Winners like George Lewis, Unconscious, Quack, Linda's Chief, Agitate, Diabolo, Beau's Eagle..., Sad to see it fallen to such a irrelevant status.

Well, this race is actually a renamed Golden Gate Derby, which replaced the influential El Camino Real Derby (now run in March) several years ago.

The original California Derby never produced a Derby winner, though Kentucky Oaks winner Pike Place Dancer won it over males when it was a grass race.

All that aside, I wouldn't exactly call this race irrelevant. In the last 5 years its produced Chocolate Candy, Cause To Believe, Sinister Minister, Bwana Bull, and Buzzard's Bay, all of whom at least started in the Kentucky Derby.

Add in 2008 winner Yankee Bravo, who later started in the Preakness.

I haven't capped it yet, and I won't place my wager until I see the horses in the paddock.

At this point though it's hard to go against the jockey and trainer combos and their horses.

Couton has been hot and is on the favorite. Hollendorfer has the Smoke Glacken son and can never be left out of exotics in the big GGF races....and for that matter Alvarado has had a good week, too. Baze teams up with Sadler, looking for a Sadler repeat.

I don't see any longshots upsetting, but I'll be looking for one tomorrow to include.

It does look a nice race for the large exacta $$ wagers one might like to make. The money should be spread around.

Barrington Harvey on the 1.

Yep. I didn't see it happen but before the horses were loaded in the 1st race Russell Baze was somehow tossed from the Drysdale horse, Joffe's Run. The horse had been out of action since May 2010. I was told Baze walked off under his own power but said his neck was sore. He was off his mounts all day.

GGF tonight reports that he went to the hospital for precautionary x-rays that were negative. Says he might ride tomorrow's card.

Maybe it happens a lot and I've just never noticed.

Today in the California Derby, Hollendorfer had the 2nd place finisher, the #7 Jakesam. However since apparently no one from Sadler's operation was available for the #1 horse Dancing At Dark, Hollendorfer tended to the Sadler horse in the paddock. Hollendorfer's horse was saddled by his assistant.

So the ML 2nd choice Dancing At Dark was saddled by someone else's trainer, and then picked up Barrington Harvey as the rider to replace Baze.

Dancing at Dark ran a distant last.

I didn't play the 9th, but glanced at the form.

I noted immediately that the #5 horse Neutral last raced at BM.

Bay Meadows, April 14, 2007.

Here is Positive Response, the eventual California Derby winner.

He wasn't real happy in the paddock. In the paddock stall, he kicked it.