Past performances for Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks
From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2021)–Well accomplished Sensible Cat heads a field of 10 sophomore fillies going one mile on turf in Saturday’s $200,0000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.
Leigh Ann Howard, who passed away this past Sept. 3 at 79, was an avid animal lover and past president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) who was also a longtime owner/breeder and trainer in California. While still a trainer, she managed Valley Creek Farm and later, San Luis Rey Downs. The Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired sophomore fillies.
Beaten 13 ¼ lengths in her six furlong debut on dirt Sept. 7, the Carla Gaines-conditioned Sensible Cat transitioned to grass in her second start, and she registered a two length victory with Mike Smith aboard versus Cal-bred maiden fillies at one mile. Ridden by Juan Hernandez in the one mile Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos, she rallied for an impressive 1 ¾ length score on dirt and is thus two for three.
Owned by Irvin Racing Stable and bred in California by their C-Punch Ranch, Inc., Sensible Cat is by Bluegrass Cat and is out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl. Off at 9-2 in the Soviet Problem, she figures to be a shorter price on Saturday with Smith up.
Second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Sensible Cat in the Soviet Problem the Walther Solis-trained Governor Goteven is a highly accomplished two-time stakes winner who will be trying turf for the first time in her sixth start. Owned and bred by Templeton Horses, LLC, Governor Goteven is by Governor Charlie and is out of the Time to Get Even mare Time Linda Goteven. The leading money earner in the field with $171,000, she be handled by regular rider Tiago Pereira.
Off as the 5-2 favorite, trainer Neil French’s Dylans Wild Cat led turning for home and ended up third, beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Sensible Cat in the Soviet Problem. Second, beaten a head in the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 6, Dylans Wild Cat has a win, a second and a third from three tries since being transferred to French following her first start on Aug. 23 at Del Mar.
Bred by Papa Gallo Racing and owned by Sunnyside Capital Ventures, this chestnut daughter of Ministers Wild Cat retains the services of Flavien Prat as she tries turf for the first time.
Fourth, beaten three lengths by Sensible Cat at 3-1 in the Soviet Problem, KMN Racing’s homebred I’m So Anna took a one mile turf stakes two starts back at Golden Gate Fields and rates a big look for trainer Steve Sherman.
THE $200,000 LEIGH ANN HOWARD CAL CUP OAKS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 6 of 10 Approximate post 2:30 p.m. PT
- Dylans Wild Cat–Flavien Prat–124
- Smoothlikebuttah–Ruben Fuentes–124
- Super Game–Kent Desormeaux–124
- Warrens Candy Girl–Drayden Van Dyke–124
- I’m So Anna–Ricardo Gonzalez–124
- Closing Remarks–Umberto Rispoli–124
- Sensible Cat–Mike Smith–124
- Del Mar Flash–Abel Cedillo–124
- Governor Goteven–Tiago Pereira–124
- Westward Breeze–Juan Hernandez–124
First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12:00 p.m. All of Santa Anita’s races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager at 1st.com/Bet.