O'Neill goes one-two in Cal Cup Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Doug O'Neill swept the first two positions in the $100,000 California Cup Juvenile on Saturday at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting when Bench the Judge scored a 1 3/4-length victory over stablemate Wolf Tail in the final race of the day.

Bench the Judge ($13.80), under Christian Santiago Reyes, prompted the early pace, kicked clear at midstretch, and safely held off Wolf Tail. Runaway Bandido was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. Bench the Judge completed seven furlongs on Pro-Ride in 1:23.66.

Bench the Judge is by Benchmark, but was bred in Kentucky. He was eligible to the Cal Cup because, although he was not bred in the state, horses by sires based in the state can compete.

Bench the Judge was winning for the second time in five starts. He defeated maidens in his third lifetime start at Del Mar, then was third in the Barretts Juvenile on Sept. 20. He is owned by Robert Master.