From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2026)—Cee Drew and jockey Ricky Gonzalez overhauled even-money favorite Cashed in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $175,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks for California-breds going one mile on turf at Santa Anita.
“This is huge,” sai breeder-owner Mike Way. “I have a small little barn and to have a homebred win a stake in California, it’s a big deal for us. Ricky had a perfect trip, he had a perfect trip in Del Mar, we just had a little bit of traffic, and he told us she had a lot of run in her that day. We were confident today in what we had. He rode her perfectly.”
Sent off the 2-1 second choice in a field of eight, Cee Drew settled in mid-pack while saving ground on the rail. Too Sassy (8-1), with Diego Herrera up, would go to the lead and set fractions of 23.09, 46.67 and 1:12.16.
“This horse has shown talent,” said trainer Dan Blacker. “It’s a shame the stallion is not with us anymore. The stallion produced nothing but runners. It’s a credit to (owner-breeder) Mike Way. Ricky Gonzalez rode the perfect race.”
Turning into the stretch, Cashed—who was making her turf debut after a runner-up finish in the GII Starlet at Los Alamitos—took over the lead with Cee Drew looming in behind. Cashed would continue to dig in to the wire, but she could not hold off the late outside charge from Cee Drew, who won by a neck. Cecilia Street (5-1) finished another 3 ½ lengths back in third (5-1) with Eighties (15-1) completing the superfecta.
Cee Drew was making just her third start in the Oaks. A homebred for My Way Racing, the daughter of Cistron won her debut going six furlongs on turf in October at Santa Anita and then finished off the board when stretched out to a mile in the GIII Jimmy Durante on Nov. 29 at Del Mar.
Cee Drew paid $6.40, $3.00 and $2.20. Cashed, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Doug O’Neill, returned $2.80 and $2.20. Cecilia Street, with Mirco Demuro up for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $2.60.
”I had a good trip, said Gonzalez “. I was sitting perfectly. I kind of followed the (Cashed) out, and I just went with them. I knew we were gaining and she had a lot of run underneath me. She finished really well. “There was a lot of speed, so my game plan was to drop to the rail, save some ground and make one run when she’s ready. She gave me that good run at the end.”
,