ARCADIA, Calif. - The $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita on Saturday will be the sixth consecutive stakes appearance for Finneus. Since early August, Finneus has started in three graded stakes, including two second-place finishes, notably the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at 38-1 in September. In two recent starts in stakes for statebreds, the highlight for Finneus was a win in the Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Prior to those races, Finneus occasionally worked quickly, particularly in advance of the Golden State Juvenile. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Finneus turned in a rapid workout of five furlongs in 59 seconds. Trainer Walther Solis timed Finneus in a faster 58.80 seconds. “The horse does things so easily,” Solis said. Owned by Terry Lovingier, Naseer Fasihuddin, and Amanda Navarro, Finneus will be ridden for the first time in the California Cup Derby by John Velazquez, who is riding in California on a full-time basis this winter. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. Finneus will not have many rivals. As of Sunday, the Cal Cup Derby had five probable starters, including Agador Spartacus, Fast Draw Munnings, Highland Ghost and Straight Up G. Straight Up G, Finneus and Fast Draw Munnings were the first three finishers of the King Glorious Stakes at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12. Straight Up G led throughout to win by 3 1/2 lengths. “Straight Up G never got tested on the front end,” Solis said. “Speed doesn’t come back at Los Al.” With graded stakes experience from last summer and fall, Finneus could return to that level of competition in coming months, pending Saturday’s Cal Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles. “We’ll see where we go after this,” Solis said. The Cal Cup Derby is one of five stakes for statebreds on Saturday’s program, and one of three $200,000 races along with the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles, and the California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. The program includes two $150,000 races – the California Cup Sprint at six furlongs and the Sunshine Million Filly and Mare Turf Sprint at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.