From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2019)–In what figures to be his final start versus state-bred completion for the foreseeable future, heavily favored Galilean made short work of four rivals as he waltzed to a 4 ½ length win in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita. Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the imposing son of Uncle Mo got 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.43.
Also won by 2014 Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome, the Cal Cup Derby is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for California-bred or sired horses.
A reserved third, about a length and a half off of early pacesetter Loud Mouth around the Club House turn, Galilean, who fetched $600,000 at the Barretts April 2-year-old in Training sale, took undisputed command while three-wide a quarter mile from home and won like a colt with the Kentucky Derby on his mind.
A nine length winner of the one mile King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 16, Galilean, who is out of the El Prado mare Fresia, was off at 1-9 and paid $2.10 across the board.
Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker and William Sandbrook, Galilean picked up $110,000 for the win, boosting his earnings to $261,000 from and overall mark of 4-3-1-0.
Longshot Feeling Strong rallied from last to run a big second, finishing 10 lengths in front of Whooping Jay. Off at 27-1, Feeling Strong, with Tiago Pereira up, paid $6.20 and $3.20.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Whooping Jay was off at 26-1 and paid $3.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.95, 47.85, 1:11.60 and 1:36.71.