ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2025) – Whiskeyginandbrandy, interfered with turning for home by Shea Brennan, was moved up for the win in Saturday’s $175,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby for 3-year-olds, with Shea Brennan placed second.
Whiskeyginandbrandy is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Successful Appeal mare Appealing Susan, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Chacon, Anthony J., Flores, Victor M. and Lovingier, Terry C. and trained by Steve Knapp.
Stewards ruled that Shea Brennan pushed Whiskeyginandbrandy as they both circled the field, knocking Whiskeyginandbrandy off stride. Shea Brennan finished a head in front of Whiskeyginandbrandy and the stewards’ ruling was unanimous.
“My horse had a lot of trouble in his last start,” said Knapp. “He got scared in that race and he has really been training great since that race. I knew he was ready for another great race. I saw the other horse knock my horse off stride. That’s a fantastic horse (Shea Brennan) too, but that bump clearly decided the race.”
He has two wins in eight starts, earnings of $155,090 and was coming off a fourth in the Dec. 15 King Glorious.
“Nick Alexander (owner and breeder of Shea Brennan, DQ placed second) is a very good friend of mine and nobody wants to win a race like that,” said Lovingier. “He’s got a very good horse and I think they made the right call. I think we were going to win the race. It is difficult to win a race like that because he is such a good friend and a great man for all of horse racing.