There Is Cause to Believe

Cause To Believe, who has not been worse than second in eight career starts, will try for his second derby win of 2006 when he takes on six foes in the $100,000 California Derby today at Golden Gate Fields.

Owned by Peter Redekop and Peter Abruzzo and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the gray son of Maria’s Mon beat Objective and four others in the El Camino Real Derby, a Grade III, on Jan. 29.

Not currently Triple Crown eligible, the $30,000 2-year-old purchase could be supplemented if he continues to progress.

The apparent plan is to continue on to the Illinois Derby next month at Hawthorne should he be successful in today’s race at 1 1/16 miles.

Race of the day: Silver Tree, who was second in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf on Jan. 28 in the final ride of jockey Jerry Bailey’s career, will try to make amends under new pilot Cornelio Velasquez in the $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap today at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Bill Mott for owner Peter Vegso, Silver Tree, a 6-year-old Hennessy horse, has won seven of 24 and three of four on the Gulfstream Park turf entering the race at 1 1/16 miles.

The Canadian Turf is the second leg of the weekly Magna 5.

One for the road: Saviano will make his first start for high-percentage trainer Bruce Levine and should improve for his new barn in the fourth race today at Aqueduct.

Eibar Coa will ride the 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt for owner Steve Richardson in the $44,000 maiden contest at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Get The Money in the fifth, Cronenbold, Tenth Street, Cinema Star and Gold Bankers Gold in the sixth, and Indy Weekend, Tug O’War, American Imperium and Remembering Star in the seventh.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 0/160. Money: (previous day/meet total): $0/$966. Total money bet: $928.