From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2012) — Holladay Road is not the type of horse that has to carry his track around with him. That’s why trainer Julio Canani is cautiously optimistic that the 7-year-old Street Cry gelding will perform admirably in Saturday’s $175,000 Lava Man California Cup Classic presented by City National Bank at 1 1/16 miles.
“He won the Crystal Water on this track, so he handles dirt,” Canani said. “I ran him a mile at Del Mar and he finished third (in the Brubaker) and (Joe) Talamo wanted to ride him back. I take that as a good sign.”
Owned by Gary and Wendy Broad, Holladay Road has a 7-1-4 record from 18 career starts, with earnings of $355,252. He was fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap in March, beaten five lengths by Ron the Greek.
Holladay Road was third by a neck in last year’s Cal Cup Classic, behind Norvsky and Lucky Primo in a blanket finish.
Probable for the Classic: Holladay Road, Joe Talamo; John Scott, Victor Espinoza; Lucky Primo, Tyler Baze; Norvsky, no rider; Rousing Sermon, Rafael Bejarano; and Woodmans Luck, Garrett Gomez. Entries for Cal Cup will be taken Wednesday.