Cabo Spirit tunes up for Hollywood Derby with Twilight Derby triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Cabo Spirit won for the first time at 1 1/8 miles in his fourth attempt at the distance in Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf at Santa Anita.

The gelding, a three-time stakes winner, is scheduled to race at 1 1/8 miles on turf in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a $400,000 race at Del Mar on Dec. 3.

In 2023, trainer George Papaprodromou wants to test Cabo Spirit’s stamina on turf.

“I think he can run farther,” Papaprodromou said on Sunday.

Owned by Rustin Kretz, Cabo Spirit ($7.40) closed from sixth of eight to win the $201,500 Twilight Derby by a half-length over the 2-1 favorite Speaking Scout. Cabo Spirit was close to the pace for the final five furlongs and rallied between horses under jockey Joe Bravo.

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“I was a little worried the pace was slow,” Papaprodromou said. “Joe had him in a good spot.”

Cabo Spirit won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in August, but was only fifth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3, unable to close into a slow pace after racing toward the back of the field.

Last January, Cabo Spirit won the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf.

The Hollywood Derby typically draws runners from other circuits. Cabo Spirit may face Balnikhov, who won the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes at a mile on turf at Keeneland on Saturday for Southern California-based trainer Phil D’Amato.

D’Amato said Balnikhov will start in the Hollywood Derby or the Grade 2 Mathis Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, but is unlikely to start in both.

D’Amato had a career-best four stakes wins on a single day on Saturday, including three races at Santa Anita.

“That was fun,” he said on Sunday morning.

Going Global ($2.60) won the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf for the second consecutive year, having won the race at Del Mar last November. Going Global is scheduled to be sold at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky next Sunday.

Amy C ($9.40) won the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course over stablemate Connie Swingle, the 4-5 favorite, for her first stakes win.

In the day’s final race, Rhea Moon ($14.60) won her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Santa Anita alters holiday schedule

Santa Anita has changed its racing schedule for the opening weeks of its winter spring meeting, dropping a program on Dec. 27 and adding Jan. 2.

Under the new calendar, the track’s six-month winter-spring meeting will begin on Monday, Dec. 26. Racing will not resume until Friday, Dec. 30 for a four-day racing week. The Monday, Jan. 2 program coincides with a federal holiday to recognize New Year’s Day.

Two $100,000 races for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf – the Blue Norther for fillies and the Eddie Logan – will be moved from Dec. 27 to Dec. 30.

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