Silver Cup Steers Clear of Trouble in Upset

Hampered by much trouble in her Santa Anita debut in an allowance race Dec. 29, Silver Cup had clear sailing Sunday, and the result was a 16-1 upset in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap.

Ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza, the Irish-bred daughter of Almutawakel out-finished 6-1 shot Ticker Tape to win the Grade II by half a length. Trained by Patrick Biancone for owner Martin Schwartz, Silver Cup, a dark bay, completed the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.46.

Winless in four previous races in the U.S. after winning five of six in Italy, Silver Cup was kept in the clear when rallying on Sunday after getting blocked in the stretch when fourth as the 19-10 favorite less than two weeks ago.

“For a minute, [Ticker Tape] opened up and I thought I wouldn’t catch her,” Espinoza said. “But in the last sixteenth, when I switched my whip to the left hand, I just went by like nothing.”

Star Parade, part of a three-horse entry along with Barancella and Flip Flop that was the 4-5 favorite, finished 10th after being part of the pace. She is winless in five starts on the turf. Barancella and Flip Flop finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

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Although it can’t be said for certain, Too Much Bling may have become the first horse to win a stakes at Santa Anita after earning his first victory at Thistledown in Ohio.

Unsuccessful in three graded stakes appearances in New York last summer and fall, the 3-year-old Rubiano colt enjoyed the lesser company in his California bow, winning the $81,200 San Miguel by four lengths on Sunday. He ran the six furlongs in a quick 1:08.59.

In his first start since finishing sixth in the Nashua on Oct. 28 at Belmont Park, the 5-2 favorite responded to a waiting ride under jockey Garrett Gomez and won for the second time in six starts.

It was the first victory for the gray since he was purchased privately by trainer Bob Baffert for Bob and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable LLC and Blazing Meadows Farm LLC after his 19 1/2 -length win at Thistledown on July 30.

Cause To Believe, a 9-2 shot who was making his first start down south after winning four of six in Northern California, finished second and 27-1 outsider Bound To Be M V P, who had won his first three starts at Hastings Park in Vancouver, Canada, was third.

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There will be a pick six carry-over of $167,708 when racing resumes Wednesday at Santa Anita.

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Getting ready for a rematch with Stevie Wonderboy in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes on Saturday, Brother Derek worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 Sunday at Santa Anita.

The winner of the Norfolk Stakes last fall at Santa Anita and the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 17, Brother Derek, a California-bred son of Benchmark owned by Cecil Peacock and trained by Dan Hendricks, was fourth behind Stevie Wonderboy in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park.

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Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan completed a sweep of the four weekend stakes at Gulfstream Park when he rode 7-2 shot Honor In War to victory in the $75,000 Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.