The California Cup at Santa Anita Park debuted in 1990 as a “World Series” for horses bred in the Golden State. The event features a series of stakes races – five on Saturday – with the California Cup Derby for 3-year-olds serving as its centerpiece.
The first California Cup took place in 1990 at Santa Anita. The first winner of the California Cup Classic – since moved to the fall as a stand-alone event – was My Sonny Boy, bred by Old English Rancho and trained by Bill Spawr.
California thoroughbred breeding farm staple Old English Rancho is still actively breeding thoroughbreds and remains a significant force in California's horse industry, though they formed a joint operating agreement with Harris Farms around 2018.
The Cal Cup was created by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) and modeled after the Breeders' Cup but restricted to horses sired by California-based stallions or horses foaled in the state.
While primarily held at Santa Anita, editions were moved to Hollywood Park while it was still in operation during years when Santa Anita hosted the Breeders' Cup.
The $125,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes for 4-year-olds and up will be contested at 6 furlongs and serves as a key showcase for speedsters in the Golden State series. It’s the second race on the day with a 4 p.m. ET post time.
The race is named after Donald “Don” Valpredo, a prominent California horseman, breeder, owner, and racing commissioner who played a pivotal role in establishing the California Cup series in 1990.
Top contenders include last year’s winner, Big City Lights, who is returning for his third start after a 10-month layoff following his 7 ¾-length win a year ago. Hall of Famer Richard Mandella trains the $22,000 son of Mr. Big, who won the 2024 Palos Verdes Stakes (G1), for owner William R. Peeples. Jockey Mirco Dimuro has the call.
Man O Rose, a 6-year-old gelded son of Stanford, is riding a three-race win streak – all Cal-bred stakes. He is another who spent a good part of last year on the sideline though he won all three of his races in 2025 and returns for his fourth start of his return for trainer Jeff Mullins. Regular rider Edwin Maldonado will be back in the saddle.
Book Smart is also a gelded son of Stanford, and the 7-year-old Bob Hess Jr. trainee has struggled a bit in three recent stakes outings, his last win dating back four starts to allowance company at Del Mar in the summer. He does benefit from having Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard and figures to pick up a decent check at square odds with a clean trip.
The Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes is a $175,000 contest for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles over Santa Anita's grass course. The race honors Unusual Heat, a California sire who dominated the state's breeding ranks from 2004-2012, producing versatile winners on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. He was inducted into the CTBA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Eight are entered. The Turf Classic is race 5 with a 5:30 p.m. post time.
Leading contenders include Hey Jessie, a 4-year-old filly looking to rebound from a dismal showing in the Red Carpet Stakes (G3) last out. The daughter of Grazen won the Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos on dirt 13 months ago but carries a nice turf sprint stakes win – with a nice speed figure – into this event. Sean McCarthy trains the gray filly, who breaks from the rail under jockey Mike Smith.
Mr. Disrespectful, by the late California leading sire Smiling Tiger, rides a two-race allowance win streak into this event (after a DNF because he tossed his rider at the break) and has earned strong speed figures. Jockey Hector Berrios returns for trainer Craig Dollase in search of a first stakes win, though he has placings, and the pair will break from gate 2.
None Above the Law is an 8-year-old gelding by Karakontie with earnings of more than $670,000 from seven career wins. Trained by Peter Miller, he is making his first start since May of 2025 and is a graded stakes winner, having won the 2021 Del Mar Derby (G2), which makes him a major threat if he is in top form. He ran in this race in previous years, finishing seventh last year and fifth in 2024, so he will need to improve to be a factor.
The 5-year-old mare Stop Digging is also coming off a recent optional claiming win in January 2026, but it was on the dirt at a mile. She steps up in class and has to break from the outside, which could be a problem getting into her preferred position, stalking the pace, but she should be fit and ready to tackle the boys. Armando Ayuso rides for Simon Callaghan.
The $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is contested at 6 ½-furlongs down Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course. This event is integrated into the California Cup program but originates from the Sunshine Millions series launched in 2003, which features rivalries between Florida-bred and California-bred horses.
Grand Slam Smile, who drew post position 3, is the leading contender based on consistency and class. A versatile multiple stakes winner with nine wins in 16 starts and career earnings over $753,000, she enters the race following a win in the Betty Grable Stakes in November. Her proven track record makes her the likely top choice for trainer Sean McCarthy and jockey William Antongeorgi.
Issa Court is trained by Robert B. Hess, Jr., and this mare finished a strong second to Grand Slam Smile in the Betty Grable in her last out. She also finished a half-length behind another top horse, Sneaker, in the California Distaff Handicap last October, suggesting she is a consistent and serious challenger. Hector Barrios rides, and the pair breaks from post nine.
Sneaker, trained by George Papaprodromou, previously defeated Grand Slam Smile when winning the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course in October. She adds blinkers for this race, which might improve her performance, and has strong speed ratings.
Tina Turner is in sharp form, coming into the race off an allowance optional claiming win in December. While stepping up in class, the Steve Knapp trainee has a winning momentum, which makes her a contender.
The 5-year-old mare Prancingthruparis is making her first start since August, but she has stakes-winning experience and is a winner against state breds in stakes company back in March. If she returns in top shape, she could take this contest at what everyone hopes will be a decent price.
Nine will head postward at 7:30 p.m.
The Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks is for 3-year-old fillies set at a mile on turf. This event is an early-season test for emerging talents in the Golden State Series and often a steppingstone to bigger races, such as the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
The race is named in honor of Leigh Ann Howard, a former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and a driving force behind promoting Cal-breds who died in 2020.
Strong contenders include Cashed coming off a strong second-place finish in the Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos in December. Trained by Doug O'Neill, she will be trying turf for the first time, but her high-level dirt performance suggests significant class that should translate well.
Cecilia Street, trained by Leonard Powell, has a win going a mile on the turf at Del Mar and recently won a state-bred allowance race at Santa Anita. Her proven experience and success on the turf course make her a solid contender.
Too Sassy is a stakes winner who has been a consistent performer in the state-bred ranks. While coming off a poorer finish in a high-level stakes race in October 2025, her prior form suggests she has the ability to compete strongly in this field.
Post time is at 6:30 p.m. PT, race 7 on the nine-race card.
The California Chrome Cal Cup Derby is a $175,000 race for 3-year-olds set to be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and is positioned as a key prep for potential Kentucky Derby hopefuls within the state's restricted program. It is named after California Chrome, the iconic Cal-bred who won the 2014 Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1), capturing this very race during his Horse of the Year campaign.
Ocean Bear, a ridgling son of Bolt d’Oro trained by George Papaprodromou, won the Golden State Juvenile Stakes and carries one of the top speed ratings in the field. With jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard, his strong recent performance makes him a leading contender.
The I’ll Have Another colt Smoovin Saturday, who is trained by Michael McCarthy, is unbeaten in two starts, including a recent win in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos a month ago. His perfect record suggests he holds a ton of upside, especially against this field of fellow Cal-breds.
John Sadler trains the stakes winner Sammy Davis, who finished second in the Golden State and has consistently run well in stakes company. He is a proven performer at this level, and the son of Sir Prancealot will carry jockey Hector Barrios from post position two.
As the eighth of nine races, the feature is set to leave the gate at 7 p.m.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
