Giver Not a Taker goes a little longer in California Cup Derby
The long stretch at Los Alamitos benefited Giver Not a Taker in the King Glorious Stakes at a mile for California-breds last month. He closed from fourth on the rail to win for the first time at the distance at 3-5.
Flavien Prat rode Giver Not a Taker for the first time in the King Glorious, an experience that has left the top jockey confident the gelding can handle a slightly longer start in Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
“I didn’t have any issue going a mile,” Prat said. “I don’t see that as a problem. He was really handy last time.”
The California Cup Derby is a new distance for all seven runners, including Crypto Ride, a game second by a head at 47-1 in the King Glorious Stakes, and Passarando, a two-time stakes winner.
The California Cup Derby is the seventh race on a 10-race program and is part of a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Rainbow pick six, which covers the fifth through 10th races.
Giver Not a Taker tends to race as a stalker and should have a pace in front of him in the California Cup Derby from Thirsty John, unraced since a win in a maiden race last May, and possibly Geezer, who was third in the King Glorious.
Giver Not a Taker is trained by Peter Miller for owners and breeders Kirk and Judy Robison. A winner of 3 of 5 starts, Giver Not a Taker finished ninth of 11 in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita in October on a turf course Miller later said the gelding did not like.
Crypto Ride is a stalker. He closed from fourth in the King Glorious to lead by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, but was beaten a head. The narrow loss occurred nine days after Crypto Ride won a $50,000 claiming race for statebred maidens at six furlongs.
“I thought he ran a good race,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “Hopefully, he’ll be competitive. He wants a target, but he’s handy, too.”
Owned by Zephyr Racing, Crypto Ride was supplemented to the King Glorious for $25,000, which makes Crypto Ride eligible for California-bred stakes throughout the state for his career.
So far, the fee is money well spent. Crypto Ride earned $20,000 in the King Glorious. Crypto Ride finished third and seventh in his first two starts, which came before he was gelded in late October. He has since finished first and second.
“He’s improved a lot,” Lewis said. “He could be a good prospect.”
Crypto Ride was ridden by Umberto Rispoli in the King Glorious and will be ridden by Hector Berrios on Saturday. Rispoli has the mount on Passarando, a major threat from off the pace who won the Gold Rush Stakes at a mile on Dec. 3 at Golden Gate Fields.
California Cup Oaks
Cast Member, unbeaten in three races, will start on turf for the first time in Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks for statebred fillies at a mile against the toughest field of her brief career.
Trained by Tim Yakteen for owner and breeder George Krikorian, Cast Member drew the outside in a field of nine. Sell the Dream, third in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf Dec. 3 at Del Mar, drew post 8.
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Cast Member and Sell the Dream are likely to be near the front, well ahead of the closer Quickly Park It, who won the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at a mile on turf Oct. 29 at Golden Gate Fields but was ninth of 12 in the Durante Stakes.
The California Cup Oaks, which is part of the Rainbow pick six, is the stakes debut for Carole Lombard, a maiden race winner at a mile on turf against statebreds Nov. 20 at Del Mar in her second start.
Cast Member will be ridden by John Velazquez, who was aboard for the filly’s debut in a maiden race at six furlongs at Del Mar. Ramon Vazquez rode Cast Member to two stakes wins on dirt at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos in the last months of 2022 and is riding Carole Lombard.
“I think it’s an evenly matched, competitive race,” Yakteen said. “I think Johnny will ride the race according to the break.”
Cast Member is by Munnings, a successful sire of turf runners, and is out of Be My Baby, a winner on turf.
“She seems to train in the morning like a horse that will enjoy the turf,” Yakteen said.
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