Stakes winners galore in California Cup stakes

The five-race series of stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita on Saturday drew 22 stakes winners, including seven in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles for older horses.

There was a remote chance the number of stakes winners entered could increase as fields were being finalized late Wednesday morning.

The 10-race program is scheduled to start at noon Pacific. There are four stakes winners in the $200,000 California Cup Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/ 16 miles, a race won in 2014 by eventual Horse of the Year California Chrome.

The $200,000 California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf drew three stakes winners.

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There are two $150,000 sprints at six furlongs on the program – the California Cup Sprint for older horses on dirt, which has five stakes winners, and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, which drew three stakes winners.

The Turf Classic will be the first start against older horses for Indian Peak, who won the $151,000 Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita last June. Indian Peak has not raced since he finished last of eight in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar last August.

Owned by breeders William and Jill Gray, Indian Peak was trained by Quinn Howey for those races, but was recently transferred to Brian Koriner. The Turf Classic field is led by the graded stakes winners Acclimate and Ward ’n Jerry. The other stakes winners entered are Brandothebartender, Fly to Mars, Heck Yeah, and Marckie’s Water.

Howey plans to start Bettor Trip Nick in the California Cup Sprint. Bettor Trip Nick was last of seven in the Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs on Nov. 22 at Del Mar, but lost two shoes in the race, Howey said.