Intimidate back home for California Derby

Despite a loss at Golden Gate Fields two starts back, trainer Bob Hess Sr. is confident that Intimidate can get back to his winning ways there in Saturday’s $100,000 California Derby.

At least going into the race, that confidence does not seem misplaced.

Intimidate, 3 for 4 as a juvenile and making his 3-year-old debut Saturday, won his first two starts, both at Golden Gate, including a 7 1/2-length debut win on Sept. 10.

“I don’t know how good he is yet, and I don’t want to know,” Hess said before running Intimidate in the Golden Nugget here on Nov. 11. “I want to keep winning,”

Nothing went right that day as Intimidate was bothered badly down the backstretch and finished last of six, though he was moved up to fifth on a disqualification.

Hess drew a line through that race and sent Intimidate south to run in the $100,345 King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16. The trainer was rewarded with an impressive win.

“I think he might do better as time goes on,” Hess said after the King Glorious, and he has every reason to be confident going into Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile race.

Trainer Jonathan Wong will saddle Mugaritz, who makes his stakes debut and will be gunning for his third straight victory.

“There’s no other spot, but he’s improving,” said Wong.

Mugaritz is 2 for 2 at Golden Gate Fields, including a nose victory on Jan. 1 in an optional $40,000 claimer in which Mugaritz was eligible to be claimed. The California Derby will mark the first race where he hasn’t run for a claiming tag.

“We may have gambled last time, but he had just run for $20,000, and we wanted to save the allowance condition,” Wong said.

Mugaritz responded with a career-best effort, going wire to wire.

“His works have gotten better and better, and he’s only going to get better,” said Wong.

Jerry Hollendorfer sends up Choo Choo, a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Blueskiesnrainbows. Choo Choo debuted on dirt at Los Alamitos and has since made four starts on turf, including a maiden win Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Eoin Harty has entered Kylemore, runner-up to Mugaritz as the favorite last time; Steve Miyadi has Campaigner, third behind Intimidate in the King Glorious; and Jeff Mullins will run East Rand, who was third while defeating Choo Choo in the Grade 3 Cecille B. DeMille at Del Mar on Nov. 26.

KEY CONTENDERS

Intimidate, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 73-37-66

◗ Pressured on the lead but pulled away late to win the one-mile King Glorious by 1 1/4 lengths.

◗ He has worked twice since the Dec. 16 King Glorious.

Mugaritz, by Dialed In
Last 3 Beyers: 77-55-38

◗ He lost his two starts on dirt and won his two on Tapeta.

Choo Choo, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-70

◗ Has shown steady improvement, following his maiden win with a fourth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar and a third in the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita, both on turf.

◗ He has had early traffic trouble in two of his last three races.

◗ Will be making his debut on a synthetic track.