Cal Cup Draws Large Fields

Graham Stone and Will Dixon, the two South Dakotans who hit the Breeders’ Cup pick six for $2.7 million -- before taxes -- will have an opportunity to take another swing at a hefty pool today.

Guests of Oak Tree for their first visit to a live racetrack, Stone and Dixon, who joined forces to hit the pick six on an $8 ticket, are here for the California Cup, which features a guaranteed pick-six pool of $1 million.

Like the Breeders’ Cup, the Cal Cup, a series of races restricted to California-breds, features something Californians aren’t used to seeing on most race days: large fields.

Sixty-five horses are scheduled to run in the pick-six races, the fifth through the 10th.

Meanwhile, Yell and Awesome Humor head the field in the $200,000 Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap, a Grade II at one mile.

Owned and bred by Claiborne Farm and Mrs. Adele Dilschneider, Yell ended a five-race losing streak with a win in the Raven Run on Oct. 10 at Keeneland. Pat Day will ride the A.P. Indy filly.

Awesome Humor, who won all four of her races as a 2-year-old, won for the second time in 2003, taking the Indiana Breeders’ Cup Oaks on Oct. 3 at Hoosier Park. Larry Melancon has the mount.

Race of the day: My Captain, who has won three in a row for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer Art Sherman, is among six scheduled to go six furlongs in the $60,000 Albany Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

One for the road: Grand Prayer adds Lasix for her second start in today’s sixth at Aqueduct, a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. The daughter of Grand Slam again will be ridden by Pablo Fragoso and most maidens from this barn (Mark Hennig) show vast improvement the second time out.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Excess Summer, Full Moon Madness and Summer Service in the sixth, singling Silent Sighs in the seventh and Menacing Dennis, Sea to See and Continental Red in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/78. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17.20/$422.80. Total money bet: $518.