Cee Drew edges by in California Cup Oaks, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Cee Drew and jockey Ricky Gonzalez overhauled even-money favorite Cashed in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $175,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks for California-breds going one mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Sent off the 2-1 second choice in a field of eight, Cee Drew settled in mid-pack while saving ground on the rail. Too Sassy (8-1), with Diego Herrera up, would go to the lead and set fractions of 23.09, 46.67 and 1:12.16.
Turning into the stretch, Cashed—who was making her turf debut after a runner-up finish in the GII Starlet at Los Alamitos—took over the lead with Cee Drew looming in behind. Cashed would continue to dig in to the wire, but she could not hold off the late outside charge from Cee Drew, who won by a neck. Cecilia Street (5-1) finished another 3 ½ lengths back in third (5-1) with Eighties (15-1) completing the superfecta.
Cee Drew was making just her third start in the Oaks. A homebred for My Way Racing, the daughter of Cistron won her debut going six furlongs on turf in October at Santa Anita and then finished off the board when stretched out to a mile in the GIII Jimmy Durante on Nov. 29 at Del Mar.
Cee Drew paid $6.40, $3.00 and $2.20. Cashed, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Doug O’Neill, returned $2.80 and $2.20. Cecilia Street, with Mirco Demuro up for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $2.60.
