Start The Ride grinds out win in the Cal Cup Derby, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —After being declared a non-starter in his debut, Start the Ride ran down even-money favorite Sammy Davis inside the final furlong and won the $175,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Saturday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Armando Ayuso, Start the Ride (13-1) is a homebred colt by Upstart for owner-breeder Harris Farms. He is trained by Dan Blacker, who about 30 minutes earlier also won the California Cup Oaks with Cee Drew.
Sammy Davis, who was making his two-turn debut for trainer John Sadler, broke on the lead but jockey Hector Berrios allowed 50-1 longshot Almost There. Sammy Davis bided his time on the inside before taking the lead entering the second turn and then opening up his advantage to the quarter pole.
But with the additional distance still ahead of Sammy Davis, he began to falter. Start the Ride gradually cut into his lead in the stretch and then surged to the front to win going away by 1 ¾ lengths. Sammy Davis held second by 1 ½ lengths over Pavlovian (11-1).
Start the Ride won in a time of 1:44.55 following fractions of 23.69, 48.38, 1:12.69 and 1:38.18.
When attempting to debut on Nov. 16 at Del Mar going a mile, Start the Ride was declared a non-starter after the assistant starter held on to his reins for too long after the gates opened. He was 13 lengths back in last through the opening quarter mile that day before rallying to cross the wire in fourth.
Start the Ride paid $29.20, $12.40 and $7.20. Sammy Davis returned $3.80 and $2.80. Pavlovian, with Mirco Demuro aboard for trainer Doug O’Neill, paid $4.80.
