Good enough to win the California Cup Derby? Heck Yeah!

ARCADIA, Calif. – He won his career debut in a main-track sprint at Los Alamitos in December and then won the California Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Jan. 27.

Heck Yeah is unbeaten in two starts. The extent of his ability may be better known when he starts as the favorite in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby for 3-year-old statebreds at Santa Anita.

The California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles on the main track will be Heck Yeah’s first start around two turns. The race drew a field of 12, including the stakes winners Continental Divide and Intimidate, the stakes-placed runners Lucky Romano and Campaigner, and the maiden-race winners Black Site, George From Tahoe, and Violent Ridge.

Then there is Faversham, a full brother to the two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome. Faversham was a fast-closing second to Violent Ridge in a maiden race for statebreds at six furlongs on Jan. 15 in his only start.

KEY CONTENDERS

Heck Yeah, by Acclamation

Beyers: 80-78

◗ Heck Yeah beat maidens by 5 1/4 lengths at 5 1/2 furlongs and won the Cal Cup Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course by 2 1/2 lengths. He raced near the front against maidens, and closed from eighth in a field of 12 in the Cal Cup Turf Sprint.

“I think he’s a pretty nice horse,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

◗ Owned by breeder Michael Pageler, Michael Sigband, and Bob Baedeker, Heck Yeah has a pedigree that suggests he can handle 1 1/16 miles. His sire, Acclamation, was the champion older male of 2011 and won nine stakes, including the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles.

◗ On Feb. 12, Heck Yeah worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 in company with Zulfikhar, a well-regarded colt entered in an optional claimer at Oaklawn Park on Monday.

◗ Mike Smith replaces Drayden Van Dyke on Heck Yeah. Van Dyke is riding for Baffert at Oaklawn Park on Monday.

Intimidate, by Vronsky

Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-37

◗ Intimidate won the King Glorious Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16, and was third against open company in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 20.

◗ Intimidate set the pace in both races. In the Cal Derby at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, Intimidate faded in the final furlong to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Choo Choo. Intimidate was challenged by Choo Choo on the far turn of that race.

“The other horse came up and hooked him,” trainer Bob Hess Sr. said. “He ran with him for three-sixteenths of a mile.”

Faversham, by Lucky Pulpit

Beyer: 73

◗ Faversham broke slowly and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in his debut.

◗ Faversham is trained by Art Sherman, who also trained California Chrome, who won this race in 2014.

◗ Sherman knows Faversham must show vast improvement on Monday.

“It’s a tough assignment,” Sherman said. “If he runs a big race, I’ll be happy. He’s trained awfully good coming into the race.”