Intimidate points to Golden Gate, Santa Anita stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - Intimidate will be considered for stakes at Golden Gate Fields or Santa Anita after winning for the third time in his four-race career in Saturday’s $100,000 King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Bob Hess Sr. said Sunday that the $100,000 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 20 or the $200,000 California Cup Derby for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Feb. 19 are under consideration.

Intimidate, who won his first stakes Saturday, will be based at Santa Anita with Hess’s son, Bob Hess Jr., in coming weeks, Bob Hess Sr. said.
Hess Sr. said the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 is not under consideration.

“We don’t want to run in that,” he said. “I want to keep him winning.”

The California Derby has appeal because of expected softer competition, Hess said.

“That’s easier than any race at Santa Anita,” he said.

Hess said that Intimidate emerged from the one-mile King Glorious Stakes for California-breds in excellent condition.

“Everything looks good so far,” he said.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Intimidate led or disputed the pace throughout the King Glorious and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Lucky Romano after a stretch-long duel. The King Glorious was Intimidate’s first start on dirt and at a mile.

He won two of his first three starts on the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields.

Intimidate, by Vronsky, has earned $99,640 for co-owners James Eaton, Maria Hess and breeder Don Muldoon.