California Cup Derby and Oaks Preview

President’s Day means holiday racing across the country Monday, with Santa Anita making a move to run the California Cup Derby and Oaks on this day for the first time. While the Derby is a lopsided affair featuring a potential star, the Oaks is a deep and competitive field.

California Chrome used the $200,000 Cal Cup Derby in 2014 as a springboard to his Horse of the Year campaign. #4 Galilean (2-5) will be trying to do the same. The state-bred son of Uncle Mo – a rarity – broke his maiden in a stakes race first out for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, backing up his $600,000 purchase price. He then finished second by a neck in the Golden State Juvenile, but won the one-mile King Glorious Stakes by nine widening lengths. This 1 1/16-mile race could set him up for the San Felipe Stakes or Santa Anita Derby, if desired.

Competition in the field of five includes #3 Irish Heatwave (3-1), who is coming off three straight turf races and two sprints. He won his only start around two turns for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Galilean’s stablemate is #1 Loud Mouth (8-1), who has changed barns after he broke his maiden in an off the turf, sloppy main track race for Mike Machowsky.

While the Derby goes as race four, the $200,000 Oaks comes right after, race 5. #9 Apache Princess has already won three times at the meet – which started December 26 – and was a stakes winner in the off-the-turf Sweet Life (G3) just eight days ago. The daughter of Unusual Heat can win on either surface, so rain isn’t an issue, as this is slated to be a mile on the grass.

#8 Lakerball (5-2) is the main challenger. Off since an uncharacteristically poor effort in the Jimmy Durante (G3), she won two straight stakes races over this distance before that. She’s won over this trip before and has been freshened since the fall. #4 Kookie Gal (4-1) won the Soviet Problem Stakes at a mile at Los Alamitos in December; she did break her maiden over this trip in October. #2 Mucho Unusual (8-1) has been second in two stakes before this and is knocking on the door.