Solis Rides Off With the California Cup

Fernando Valenzuela had the right idea when he tacked up a handwritten sign on the bulletin board in the jockey’s room at Santa Anita.

“Thank you for attending Solis Cup Day,” was his simple message.

The most successful rider in the seven-year history of the California Cup, Alex Solis won four times Saturday, equaling the four victories Pat Valenzuela had in the 1991 Cup.

Although he ran last on Dresser in the day’s main event, the $250,000 Classic, Solis was a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle. He won the opener, the $50,000 Distaff Starter Handicap, with favored Miss Lady Bug, then came right back with favorite Cat’s Cradle in the $125,000 Distaff.

Oak Tree’s runaway leader in the jockey standings, Solis finished with 4-1 shots Testimony in the $125,000 Sprint and Rexy Sexy in the $100,000 Juvenile Fillies. The series of races for California-breds attracted 30,293, the largest on-track crowd of the meeting, and left Solis with nine Cal Cup victories, one more than Gary Stevens.

“I’ve been very fortunate to ride these horses,” Solis said. “Earlier this week, my agent [Scotty McClellan] said, ‘You’re riding some good horses in the Cal Cup. I think we could have a big day.’ He was right. When you ride these kind of horses, it makes it easier.”

Megan’s Interco will never catch Solis in victories, but the 7-year-old gelding did something Saturday that only His Legacy had done before--he became a three-time Cal Cup winner.

Given all he could handle by Mateo, the 9-2 third choice in the field of six who was carrying seven fewer pounds, Megan’s Interco, the 123-pound highweight, prevailed after a stretchlong duel to win by half a length in 1:47 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Milt Bronson and trained by Jenine Sahadi, who had won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint a week earlier with Lit De Justice, the gelded son of Interco has 14 wins from 29 starts, including two victories in the Cal Cup Mile.

“It’s been an incredible week,” Sahadi said. “I’m so proud of this horse, he’s so game.

“I think everybody was excited to see him today and I’m glad we decided to stay home [rather than run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile]. Down the stretch, my arms were flailing everywhere. It’s exciting, but anytime you win a race, it’s fun. The big ones are better, though.”

Stevens, who nearly earned the upset with Mateo, was not shut out Saturday. He and Half Mamoon came from well off the pace to take the $175,000 Mile, beating Gastown by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:33 2/5 on the turf.

Remaining unbeaten in three starts, Carmen’s Baby scored the day’s biggest surprise, winning the $100,000 Juvenile under Julio Garcia.

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Timarida, the 9-5 morning line choice for today’s $600,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, has been scratched because of a slight fever, according to her trainer, John Oxx.

With Timarida, who won the Beverly D in August and has 10 victories in 15 starts, out, Wandesta will be heavily favored in the 1 1/4-mile, Grade I turf race.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for the Juddmonte Farms, Wandesta won the Las Palmas in convincing style last month, beating, among others, defending Yellow Ribbon champion Alpride and Real Connection.

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Cigar, the 6-year-old stallion who earned nearly $10 million during his storied career, made his last trip around a dirt oval Saturday, a far slower ride than ever before as he trotted the ring in New York’s Madison Square Garden to a standing ovation at the National Horse Show.

Owned by Allen and Madeleine Paulson, Cigar has been retired to stud at the Paulsons’ Brookside Farm in Versailles, Ky.

Horse Racing Notes

Belle’s Flag remained perfect in four starts, capturing the $125,000 Matron in her first try around two turns. Corey Nakatani rode her for owner Ernest Auerback and trainer Darrell Vienna. . . . Although the on-track crowd was the largest of the current meeting, it was the second-smallest in Cal Cup history.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.