Fashionably Fast turns back all challengers in California Cup Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fashionably Fast fought off pressure on the backstretch, turn, and through the stretch to extend his winning streak to five races in a thrilling running of the $150,000 California Cup Sprint for statebreds at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Fashionably Fast ($6.20) won by a neck over 5-2 Lieutenant Dan, a two-time stakes winner in 2019 who ran brilliantly in his first start since August.

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Fashionably Fast fought through an early duel with Baja Sur, who set fractions of 21.74 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.72 for a half-mile while holding a narrow lead.

Baja Sur, racing on the inside through the duel with Fashionably Fast, faded from contention in early stretch. Fashionably Fast did not have a respite before he was quickly challenged by Lieutenant Dan.

Pereira noted the gameness of Fashionably Fast after dueling with Baja Sur and facing a renewed threat in the stretch.

“I switched the whip and he responded well,” Pereira said. “He’s been such a nice horse.”

Fashionably Fast ran six furlongs in 1:09.60 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Lieutenant Dan finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 15-1 Brandothebartender, who was followed by Oliver and Baja Sur, the 8-5 favorite. The California Cup Sprint was the first time Baja Sur finished outside of the first two in seven starts, which includes five wins.

“He had the opportunity go to the lead, but I was riding him for much of the race,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “He didn’t kick today.”

Fashionably Fast, a 5-year-old gelding by Lucky Pulpit, has won 6 of 15 starts and earned $389,745 for John Harris, Per Antonsen, and John Nicoletti and trainer Dean Pederson.

The current winning streak includes the Harris Farms Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair in October, which was sponsored by John Harris’s Farm, and the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 24.

In those stakes wins, both for California-breds, Fashionably Fast stalked the pace before taking the lead in the stretch.

“I don’t know if that was the ideal running style, but he was as game as he could be,” Pederson said in the winner’s circle after the California Cup. “The horse has done so much for us.”

Stealthediamonds steals Sunshion Millions Filly and Mare Sprint on the front end

Stealthediamonds, claimed for $80,000 in October, won her first stakes in a front-running style in Saturday’s $150,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for California-breds.

Ridden by Agapito Delgadillo, Stealthediamonds ($8.80) held off a late threat from 1-2 favorite Just Grazed Me to win by a half-length, finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.61. Stealthediamonds earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“At the top of the lane, I asked her for more and she put it in another gear and we came home easily,” Delgadillo said.

The Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint was the first stakes win for the 53-year-old Delgadillo since Cuddle Alert’s victory in the 2017 Spring Fever Stakes here.

Stealthediamonds led by two lengths on the turn and gave winning trainer Mike Puype anxious moments in the final furlong.

“She dug for it,” Puype said. “I was worried she’d make the full five and a half.”

Just Grazed Me “was the horse to beat. I was praying she’d get to the wire.”

Just Grazed Me, who had won her three previous starts, including two stakes last fall, finished three-quarters of a length in front of 7-2 Apache Princess.

Lakerball finished fourth, followed by Show It N Moe It and Lippy. Into Rissa was scratched.

Stealthediamonds was claimed when she finished third in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option here on Oct. 27. Owned by James and Ywachetta Driver, Stealthediamonds won her first start for them and Puype in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at five furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 24.

Between that win and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Stealthediamonds has earned $132,900. A 4-year-old filly by Unusual Heat, Stealthediamonds has won 6 of 17 starts and earned $289,875.