Variety Road 3-1 Favorite for California Cup Classic

Variety Road, a stallion who returns to the races between breeding seasons, has been established as a 3-1 favorite in the $300,000 Classic, the richest stake Saturday at Santa Anita on the inaugural California Cup card.

Variety Road, whose three stake wins this year have come in Northern California, is a 7-year-old who has left training for the breeding shed in February the past two years.

The California Cup is a seven-race, $1-million stakes program restricted to California-bred horses. Two other races on the program--maiden events--are also for Cal-breds.

There were 85 horses entered for the stakes. Here’s the lineup:

Starter Handicap, $50,000, 3 year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles--Harry V., Power Base, Raketmensch, Scout of Fortune, Comical, Simply Famulous, I Can Do That, Great Event, Proper Rider, Meadow’s Interco.

Sprint, $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, six furlongs--Summer Sale, Express It, Valley Land, Answer Do, Due to the King, Just Deeds, Pass the Blame, Valiant Pete, Sensational Star.

Distaff, $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf--Linda Card, Fly Gaelic, Shinko’s Lass, Somethingmerry, Paper Princess, She’s a V.P., Survive, Hasty Pasty, Gin Rummy Judy, Singing Pirate, Classy Vigora, Dot’s L’Natural, Intercivet, T.V. of Crystal.

Juvenile, $100,000, 2-year-olds, colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles--What a Spell, Crystal’s Game, Mizter Interco, Jimjen, Pillaring, Thisonesforyoumike, Sew Predictable, Frosty Paws, Rally Run.

Mile, $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, one mile on turf--Agirlfrommars, Eratone, Gum, Shirkee, Cove Way, Bel’s Starlet, No Commitment, Effusive Bounty, Noble Dr., Individualist, Zin, Eddie Champion.

Classic, $300,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles--Bel Darling, Rocket Gibralter, Variety Road, Stylish Stud, Elegant Bargain, Bel Air Paster, Rob an Plunder, On the Menu, Serious Flight, Annual Date, He’s a Saros, Toby Jug, Advocate Training, My Sonny Boy, Hawaiian Pass.

Juvenile Fillies, $100,000, 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles--Teach Us, Hit a Homer Honey, Nat’s Lea, Number’s Game, Simple Surprise, Perky Slew, Serious Toy, Dragonetta, Theresa’s Pleasure, Teresa Mc, Spirited Susan, Cassie June, Brisa De Mar, Nikki’s Baby, Ten Hail Marys, First To Advance.