Everything sets up for Big Fish in Cal Cup Derby

A hot pace and the fortuitous defection of the race’s morning-line favorite turned out to be an unbeatable combination Saturday for Big Fish in his return to the main track in the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita.

The Chosen Vron, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, was a veterinarian scratch Saturday morning, leaving an inscrutable field of eight 3-year-olds. Big Fish had a look off his best races, but they were on turf, and he was returning to dirt for the first time since July following five straight grass races.

But the 1 1/16-mile race unfolded in his favor, fast early, slow late, and he closed best to prevail.

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Big Fish ($10) helped himself by running into the spray of dirt when asked to do so on the far turn by jockey Juan Hernandez, the meet’s leading rider. He then was tipped out for the stretch drive and overpowered None Above the Law in deep stretch while going on to a 1 1/2-length score.

Good With People, a stablemate of None Above the Law and the early pacesetter, tired to finish third, four lengths behind None Above the Law.

Good With People, the 5-2 favorite, set splits of 23.26 seconds for the quarter and 47.50 for the half, with Play Chicken and Positivity closest. Those two retreated, and None Above the Law took up the chase. He and Good With People were even heading into the lane, but both were tiring after six furlongs in 1:12.43.

Big Fish, seventh early, had made steady progress and had weary rivals in front of him. After a mile in 1:39.38, he got up in 1:46.37 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track.

Big Fish, a gelding by Mr. Big, scored his first victory on dirt after two losses early in his career. He had defeated Cal-bred maidens and won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf last summer, then continued a steady diet of open grass stakes, once a month, most recently finishing fourth in the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita on Dec. 27.

His trainer, David Hofmans, admitted on Santa Anita’s simulcast show that he thought Big Fish preferred turf, but the big purse for Cal-breds was too tempting to pass up, even if it was on dirt.

“He’s just maturing,” said Hofmans, who put blinkers back on for Saturday’s race after removing them for two starts.

The Legacy Ranch of Pete and Evelyn Parrella owns Big Fish, who has now won three times in eight starts. He earned $120,000 Saturday, slightly more than he had made in his seven prior starts combined. By moving back to dirt, Hofmans reeled in a big one.