Start the Ride cranks up an upset in Cal Cup Derby
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ARCADIA, Calif. – A second-start maiden sprang the biggest stakes upset of the five-stakes Cal-bred card Saturday at Santa Anita, where Start the Ride ($29.20) posted a surprise victory in the $175,500 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby.
The win by Start the Ride gave trainer Dan Blacker the first stakes double of his training career. A half-hour earlier, Blacker won the California Cup Oaks with Cee Drew.
Start the Ride was ridden by Armando Ayuso; Harris Farms owns and bred Start the Ride. He wore down 2.10-1 favorite Sammy Davis to win the Cal Cup Derby by 1 3/4 lengths in a relatively slow 1:44.55 for 1 1/16 miles over a dirt track that produced fast times.
Sammy Davis finished a half-length in front of third-place Pavlovian. Smoovin Saturday, the second betting choice (also 2.10-1), finished fifth.
Start the Ride was making only his second start, and first “official” start. He debuted in a dirt mile Nov. 16 at Del Mar, but was declared a non-starter when the assistant starter inadvertently held on to the colt when the gates opened. Start the Ride broke far behind the field, and actually made it respectable to finish fourth by six lengths.
Blacker and Harris Farms subsequently entered Start the Ride in a maiden turf race at Santa Anita, but racing was canceled due to rain. Blacker said the Cal Cup Derby “was really the only good option. The horse has to go two turns.”
Harris Farms purchased the dam of Start the Ride, Elusive Ride, at a 2022 Kentucky sale. She was in foal to Upstart, carrying the colt that would be named Start the Ride. Elusive Ride was bred back to Hallady in California, making Start the Ride eligible for Cal-bred races.
While the final time of the Cal Cup Derby was ordinary, it was only the second start for Star the Ride and his first in two months. Blacker and Harris Farm might aim for the stars.
“There’s only one 3-year-old year,” Blacker said. The meaning was clear. Start the Ride could show up in a graded stakes that would determine if he is Kentucky Derby-caliber.
The winner’s circle celebration was missing an important person. California breeder John Harris owned Harris Farms before he passed away in July 2025. Harris CEO Darren Filkins paid homage to Harris in a post-race interview.
“I know John is here in spirit,” Filkins said. “… a lot of people have said Harris Farms is going away. We are not going away. Harris Farms is here and we are excited to keep running. This one is for John.”
California Cup Oaks
Earlier on Saturday, Cee Drew upset even-money favorite Cashed in the $175,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.
Cee Drew ($6.40) is a lightly raced Cistron filly who gave trainer Dan Blacker his first of two stakes wins Saturday. Blacker also won the Cal Cup Derby with Start the Ride.
Ricky Gonzalez rode Cee Drew, who wore down Cashed in deep stretch to win the Cal Cup Oaks in 1:35.93. Cashed, dropping from a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Starlet on dirt at Los Alamitos, finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of third-place Cecilia Street.
Cee Drew, second choice in the betting, started only twice before Saturday. She won her debut in a turf sprint in autumn at Santa Anita and finished a better-than-looked eighth in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar. Cee Drew faced easier Saturday.
Gonzalez positioned Cee Drew fifth on the rail, rallied four-wide into the stretch, switched leads inside the eighth pole and reeled in the runner-up Cashed in deep stretch.
Cee Drew is owned and bred by My Way Racing.
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