ARCADIA, Calif. – Finding the winner of the California Cup Oaks is usually not too difficult. But this year, the turf mile for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies is complicated by variables that include surface and speed. Bluntly stated, the fastest horse has never raced on turf and the best turf horse has never run fast. Something may have to give on Saturday at Santa Anita, where speed-figure favorite Professors’ Pride meets surface specialist Vivacious Vanessa, whose only grass race was super even if her figure was not. Professors’ Pride, Vivacious Vanessa, and Big Novel top the $150,000 California Cup Oaks, the final race on a 10-race card with five Cal-bred stakes. Professors’ Pride has the highest route figure in the field, though her 69 Beyer was on dirt. Trainer Eddie Truman is confident she will handle the switch to turf. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures “California grass?” Truman said. “How many horses in California don’t like the grass? Somewhere else, maybe. But here?” Truman has a point. The return of dry weather and firm turf affords Professors’ Pride a greater chance to reproduce her outstanding dirt form – highly rated debut sprint win, followed by a decisive route victory in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos. Juan Hernandez rode Professors’ Pride in both wins, but he sticks with last-out third-place finisher Vivacious Vanessa. Umberto Rispoli will ride Professors’ Pride. Based on pedigree, Professors’ Pride should be fine on grass. Sired by Bayern, her dam scored both career wins on turf. But if the surface switch adds uncertainty, so does her personality. Professors’ Pride is a feel-good filly who can be a handful. “She’s full of herself,” Truman said. “She’ll make some little dipsy-doodles if you don’t pay attention.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. If she minds her manners and reproduces her dirt Beyers of 72 and 69, Professors Pride can win the California Cup Oaks. Vivacious Vanessa is not as fast, having earned a 60 in her debut victory at a mile on turf. The figure does not reflect the impressive turn of foot she unleashed. Gary Mandella trains the daughter of Not This Time. “I thought I had her fit enough to run well [first out], and even win, but not necessarily fit enough to overcome trouble and bumping, and be much the best,” Mandella said. Vivacious Vanessa was buried in traffic from the three-eighths pole to deep stretch, found a seam near the eighth pole, split horses, and blasted home to win with energy in reserve. Mandella suspects the splashy debut took something out of her, and Vivacious Vanessa stalled next out finishing third in a dirt sprint. She runs on her preferred surface Saturday. “I think she’s going to be a better turf filly,” Mandella said. “She’s made more like a turf horse, and you can see her stride” is more like a turf horse. Big Novel finished second to Professors Pride last out, and trainer John Sadler is hopeful the switch to turf benefits Big Novel, who is multiple stakes-placed. “I think [turf] has got to help. It seems like all those [Mr. Big progeny] run good on turf.”