Shea Brennan DQ'd, Whiskyginandbrandy elevated to first for California Cup upset

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shea Brennan finished first in Saturday’s $175,000 California Cup Derby for 3-year-old statebreds at Santa Anita only to be disqualified and placed second behind runner-up Whiskyginandbrandy for causing interference approaching the stretch.

The margin was a neck. The stewards ruled in a unanimous decision that Shea Brennan knocked Whiskyginandbrandy off stride, costing Whiskyginandbrandy a better placing.

Stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer called for an inquiry shortly after the race was completed. Tiago Pereira and Steve Knapp, the jockey and trainer of Whiskyginandbrandy, both lodged objections, the stewards said.

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Whiskyginandbrandy ($42.20) was the second-longest shot in a field of eight.

Shea Brennan, ridden by Antonio Fresu, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.12, closing from seventh in a field of eight to reach contention on the turn.

Fresu said Shea Brennan was in tight quarters as he moved closer to the front with a wide rally, and nearly clipped heels with Got’m Cot’m, who was racing three wide. At that point, Whiskyginandbrandy was five wide, racing outside of Shea Brennan

“I’m trying not to clip with the horse in front of me,” Fresu said. “I yelled, ‘Tiago, Tiago, give me a little space’.”

Shea Brennan and Whiskyginandbrandy both recovered rapidly, particularly Whiskyginandbrandy, who sustained a significant bump.

“It was a little dangerous and a bad situation,” Pereira said.

Shea Brennan (3-1) led by a head with a furlong remaining, holding a head advantage over 7-1 Style Cat, who was a head in front of Whiskyginandbrandy.

At the finish, Whiskyginandbrandy finished three-quarters of a length in front of Style Cat, who was followed by R Heisman, Drop Um, Got’m Cot’m, I’m a Bad Boy, and Accidental Genius.

R Heisman, the 3-2 favorite, stalked the pace on the inside for the final half-mile and did not have sufficient racing room in early stretch.

“Bad trip,” jockey Flavien Prat said. “I should have let him run into the first turn.”

Whiskyginandbrandy, a colt by Stay Thirsty, races for the partnership of Anthony Chacon, Victor Flores, and Terry Lovingier. Whiskyginandbrandy was bred by Lovingier, and was listed as sold for $55,000 at the Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale in 2023.

Whiskyginandbrandy has won 2 of 8 starts and earned $161,360. The California Cup Derby was Whiskyginandbrandy’s second appearance in a stakes. The winner of a maiden race for California-bred sprinters at Del Mar in November in his sixth start, Whiskyginandbrandy was fourth by 1 3/4 lengths behind Shea Brennan in the King Glorious Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 15 despite a wide trip early.

Shea Brennan earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80, while Whiskyginandbrandy earned a 79, both career highs.

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