Bagshot to Defend Title in the California Cup

Bagshot will defend his title in the $250,000 California Cup Classic, the richest event on Saturday’s 10-race, $1.275-million California Cup at Santa Anita.

Trained by Paco Gonzalez for owners Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan, Bagshot was among 11 entered in the Classic, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

A 6-year-old son of Smokester who defeated Del Mar Gray and four others in the 1999 Classic, Bagshot will be coupled in the betting with Spacelink, a 3-year-old son of Mane Minister who captured last year’s Cal Cup Juvenile.

Unraced since finishing third behind Captain Steve and Tiznow in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 23, Spacelink will be ridden by Chris McCarron. Bagshot, who will get blinkers after running two races without them, will change riders again, with Kent Desormeaux taking over for Garrett Gomez.

Rounding out the field for the Classic are Cliquot, Sky Jack, Grey Memo, Count Again, Walk That Walk, Literal Prowler, First Journey, Crowning Meeting and Brew. Grey Memo and Walk That Walk will race coupled.

The other Cal Cup races are the $50,000 Starter Handicap, the $50,000 Distaff Starter Handicap, the $50,000 Starter Sprint Handicap, the $125,000 Juvenile and $125,000 Juvenile Fillies, the $150,000 Sprint, the $150,000 Matron, the $150,000 Distaff and the $175,000 Mile.

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Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. didn’t add to his record total of 8,995 victories in four mounts Wednesday at Santa Anita.