Heck Yeah remains unbeaten with win in California Cup Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. - Heck Yeah has succeeded at everything he has tried in his young career.

After winning a maiden race for sprinters on dirt at Los Alamitos in December in his debut, Heck Yeah won the California Cup Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Jan. 27.

On Monday, Heck Yeah won the $201,035 California Cup Derby for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Ridden by Mike Smith, Heck Yeah led throughout and held off a mild threat from the recent maiden-race winner Violent Ridge to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Heck Yeah faced a brief challenge on the first turn and held the lead through a strong headwind on the backstretch. The headwind was an annoyance more than anything, Smith said.

“You’re better when you’re as aerodynamic as you can be,” Smith said. “I stayed out of his way and let him get into a rhythm.”

Heck Yeah ($3.80) was timed in 1:46.60. Violent Ridge finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Continental Divide, who won the Graduation Stakes for California-bred sprinters at Del Mar last summer.

Fire When Ready was fourth, followed by Campaigner, Black Site, Hardboot, Faversham, Intimidate, Kaleidoscope Kid, and Lucky Romano.

Faversham, a full brother to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, was never closer than eighth. He is a maiden after two starts.

Intimidate won the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos in December and was third in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields last month. Intimidate challenged Heck Yeah on the first turn, but faded in the final three furlongs.

Heck Yeah races for breeder Michel Pageler in partnership with Michael Sigband and Bob Baedeker. Bob Baffert trains Heck Yeah, who has earned $194,000 from his three races.

“He tipped us off early in his training that he was a good horse,” Baffert said.

Heck Yeah is by Acclamation, the champion older male of 2011.