ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2025) – Former winners Coalinga Road and Aligato are part of a field of 11 entered in the rescheduled $175,000 California Cup Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes, presented by City National Bank, on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Santa Anita.
Keep Movin’ On is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Henny Hughes mare My Due Process, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Fairview and trained by Tim Yakteen. He has four wins in 11 starts, earnings of $120,774 and is coming off a third in a Nov. 9 optional claimer.
Multiple stakes winner On the Whim is by Acclamation, out of the Maria’s Mon mare Whimsy, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Dean Pederson. He has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $237,096 and is coming off an eighth in a Nov. 30 optional claimer.
Jimmy Blue Jeans is by James Street, out of the Marino Marini mare Blue Blizzard, was bred by Perry Bruno and John Gezon, is owned by Bruno and Amy Gezon and is trained by Jeff Mullins. He has six wins in 24 starts, earnings of $323,152 and is coming off a second in a Nov. 17 optional claimer.
Graded stakes winner Fast Buck is by Gallant Son, out of the Falstaff mare Zorra Roja, was bred by Daehling Ranch, is owned by Zephyr Racing and trainer Cesar DeAlba. He has five wins in 15 starts, earnings of $320,792 and is coming off an eighth in the Nov. 30 Seabiscuit.
Takes Three is by Nyquist, out of the Square Eddie mare Radish, was bred by Reddam Racing, is owned by Slugo Racing and trained by Mike Puype. He has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $146,960 and is coming off back-to-back optional claiming wins.
Barely Funtional is by Mrazek, out of the Tapit mare Walkingonadream, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Antonio Garcia. He has four wins in 23 starts, earnings of $281,918 and is coming off a Dec. 15 optional claiming win.
We Can is by Sir Prancealot, out of the The Pamplemousse mare Sheeza Sassy Girl, was bred by Chappell Alpine Farms, is owned by Browne Cattle Co. & William Branch and trained by Brian Koriner. He has four wins in 16 starts, earnings of $83,574 and is coming off a second in a Dec. 7 optional claimer.
Coalinga Road is by Quality Road, out of the Johannesburg mare Coco Ecolo, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Carla Gaines. He has four wins in 30 starts, earnings of $481,394 and is coming off a second in the Oct. 13 Bull Dog. He won this race in 2023.
None Above the Law is by Karakontie, out of the Northern Afleet mare Legally Blanca, was bred by J. Kirk & Judy Robison, is owned by Hector Castrellon and trained by Jorge Periban. He has seven wins in 39 starts, earnings of 668,802 and is coming off a sixth in the Nov. 29 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes. He was fifth in this race last year.
Old Pal is by Grazen, out of the English Channel mare Athina Lee, was bred by Ken W. Miles & Sheridan Jones, is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, Corbett, Carolyn, Desai, Jai H., Dizonno, Frederick A., Garcia, Chris, Harris, Cheryl, Hocevar, Craig, Lewis, Tom, Pate, Garrett, Titus, James and Wagner, Les and trained by Mark Glatt. He has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $244,940 and is coming off a third in a Nov. 17 optional claimer.
Aligato is by Kitten’s Joy, out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Pretty Hard, was bred by Bob Liewald & Joe Mishak, is owned by Double L Racing and trained by Mark Glatt. He has three wins in 18 starts, earnings of $399,732 and is coming off a sixth in an Apr. 28 optional claimer. He was third in this race last year, second in 2023 and won in 2022.