Ann Arbor Eddie stays unbeaten going two turns by taking California Cup Derby
ARCADIA, Calif. - Ann Arbor Eddie won his second consecutive stakes for California-breds in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita - and left winning jockey Mario Gutierrez convinced he has more ability than shown.
Ann Arbor Eddie ($7.20) caught pacesetter California Diamond, the 9-5 favorite, in the final 50 yards to win the race for California-bred 3-year-olds by a half-length. Ann Arbor Eddie ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.65.
California Diamond led by as many as 1 1/2 lengths, through a half-mile in 47.70 seconds. Ann Arbor Eddie was second for the first mile and trailed California Diamond by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go. He needed the last eighth of a mile to reach the front.
“Turning for home, I asked him and I could feel him responding,” Gutierrez said. “My belief is he’s still a little green.”
California Diamond, the winner of four sprint stakes at 2, finished 4 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Tribal Storm, a 19-1 outsider. Mr. Hinx finished fourth, followed by Six Point Rack, Hot Smoke, and Coils Gold.
Ann Arbor Eddie races for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill. By Square Eddie, Ann Arbor Eddie beat California-bred maidens in his debut here on Oct. 29 and was third behind the highly rated Mastery and California Diamond in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 19.
In races around two turns, Ann Arbor Eddie is unbeaten. He won the King Glorious Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 18 by 1 1/4 lengths over California Diamond.
The Reddams and O’Neill are likely to try Ann Arbor Eddie in a graded stakes for 3-year-olds in his next start. One option could be the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here on March 11. Gutierrez said the gelding deserves a chance in such a race.
“He’ll keep maturing and keep moving forward,” he said.
Ann Arbor Eddie gave the Reddam-O’Neill team their first win on Saturday after three seconds earlier on the program with Smoove It in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Radish in a maiden race for 3-year-old California-bred fillies, and How About Zero in the $200,000 California Cup Oaks.