ARCADIA, Calif. – The California Cup program at Santa Anita has been pushed around over the years, but never postponed by fire until this season.
A week later than scheduled, the five-stakes program for California-breds will be run this Saturday. In the grand scheme, it’s no big deal. There are more pressing concerns than a one-week postponement from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18 due to fires ravaging Southern California.
“There are people with bigger inconveniences than us racing this week or next week,” trainer Dean Pederson said before the $175,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic was redrawn. Pederson trains stakes winner On the Whim, who initially drew favorably in post 2 at 1 1/8 miles.
“You just hope when they redraw the race, they don’t say – ‘On the Whim, post 14,’ ” Pederson said.
No worry. Eleven entered the Turf Classic; On the Whim drew the inside post. He won’t lose ground, but he must fend off program favorite Old Pal and second-choice Aligato, a pair of late-running stakes winners trained by Mark Glatt.
The 2025 California Cup is the 12th since the program was pushed to winter after more than two decades as a staple on the fall stakes calendar. Although many top statebreds will run Saturday, missing are The Chosen Vron, an 18-time stakes winner sidelined until summer, and Kings River Knight, a six-time stakes winner who recently posted his first comeback work.
Others will step up, including a deep field in the Turf Classic, race 9. Stakes winners On the Whim, Aligato, Old Pal, and Coalinga Road top the Turf Classic, won last year by Kings River Knight.
“I don’t think anyone in this race can beat [Kings River Knight],” said Coalinga Road’s trainer, Carla Gaines.
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A similar comment applies to the $125,000 California Cup Sprint, won the past two years by The Chosen Vron. His absence leaves Big City Lights as the odds-on favorite in the California Cup Sprint, race 4 with only five entrants.
The $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, race 7, added three runners (net) from last weekend. Nine are entered, including favorite Stay and Scam. The complexion of the hillside race intensified with the addition of dirt front-runner Barbera. She is uncertain on turf, but helps to insure a legitimate pace.
The final two stakes are for 3-year-olds. Shea Brennan tops the $175,000 California Cup Derby, race 10. Stakes winner Hey Jessie entered the $175,000 California Cup Oaks, race 11.
The top race Saturday is the Turf Classic, an annual stop for Aligato. He won it in 2022, finished second in 2023, and third last year. The difference this time is Aligato has not raced since April. His trainer acknowledged the challenge.
“It’s a tall order to come off the bench to run at mile and an eighth, but he’s kind of a natural,” Glatt said, adding that the postponement is no big deal for most. “Horses that have been running right along, I don’t think it makes any difference. Could it affect a horse like Aligato because he’s coming off such a long layoff? Perhaps.”
Comebackers such as Aligato often post their final major work two weeks out. Aligato will be three weeks removed from his final serious drill. On the other hand, he is a late-runner who basically runs only the final five-sixteenths. Flavien Prat rides.
The pace scenario of the Turf Classic suits Aligato, an 8-year-old with three wins from 18 starts. The field includes front-runners Jimmy Blue Jeans, Fast Buck, and Takes Three.
The pace also suits Glatt’s late-runner Old Pal.
“He’s a horse that’s a victim of the early pace scenario, they both can be,” Glatt said. “They want them to be smoking up front.”
Stakes winner Old Pal finished third last out in an allowance. He is 3 for 10; his rider is Antonio Fresu.
On the Whim is the most probable winner, despite misfiring last out in a Del Mar allowance. On the Whim will seek his third California-bred stakes. But he finished eighth last time. What happened?
“Who knows, he was just a touch flat that day,” Pederson said. “He’s got no excuse. It’s not like he bled, or came out of the race with an issue. He kind of ran even, is what he did.”
On the Whim’s stakes wins include the California Dreamin’ last summer at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. The 1 1/8-mile Turf Classic is his first start longer than 1 1/16 miles.
“If he gets beat, it ain’t gonna be because of the distance,” Pederson assured.
Tiago Pereira rides On the Whim, who figures for a pressing trip behind the speed and in front of the closers. On the Whim has won 4 of 10 for owner-breeder Harris Farms.
Coalinga Road, also owned and bred by Harris Farms, has not won a race since the 2023 Turf Classic. But the 8-year-old almost always shows up. He has finished in the money in 21 of 30 starts. Coalinga Road has won four races and $481,394. Umberto Rispoli rides.
Fast Buck is a Grade 3-winning sprinter who contested the pace and finished eighth his first try around two turns last out. He will be hounded by front-runner Jimmy Blue Jeans and Takes Three. Others include Keep Movin’ On, Barely Funtional, We Can, and None Above the Law.
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