Tolls Touch Rallies to Win California Sires Cup Derby

Tolls Touch overcame a poor start to win his second career stakes race, the $50,433 California Sires Cup Derby Friday night at the Orange County Racing Fair at Los Alamitos.

The gelding, owned by Ed Lisenby, was the slight favorite in the race for 3-year-old quarter horses and paid $8, $4 and $3.40. He ran the 400 yards in 19.82 seconds under jockey Danny Cardoza. Second-place finisher Miss Strikin Jet paid $4.60 and $3.40. Blisterin paid $4 to show.

Blisterin broke sharpest in the nine-horse field and took the early lead as Tolls Touch, directly to his inside, broke inward. In the stretch, Blisterin, ridden by Kip Didericksen, had a head advantage, but Tolls Touch rallied in the final strides for a half-length victory over Miss Strikin Jet, one of three fillies in the field.

Mama Simba won the evening’s second stakes race, the $51,250 Chapman Handicap for thoroughbred fillies and mares. Kent Desormeaux was aboard the 4-year-old filly for his second stakes victory this week at the Fair. Mama Simba, the 3-5 favorite, beat Mahaska by three-quarters of a length. Hasty Pasty finished third.

The Orange County Racing Fair concludes its 18-night meeting tonight with a 12-race program that begins at 7:30. The $150,000 Governors Cup Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses shares the spotlight with the $50,000-added Orange County Handicap for older thoroughbreds.