Whiskyginandbrandy (outside) captures the Cal Cup Derby (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Shea Brennan crossed the wire first in Saturday’s $175,000 California Chrome California Cup Derby, but was disqualified for making “hard contact” with runner-up Whiskyginandbrandy as that pair approached the top of the stretch. In a unanimous decision by the stewards, Whiskyginandbrandy was promoted to the win.
Shea Brennan (3-1) and Whiskyginandbrandy (20-1) were each mounting rallies on the outside when the incident occurred. From that point, the pair sprinted past the rest of the field with Shea Brennan crossing the wire a neck in front.
Whiskyginandbrandy was ridden by Tiago Pereira, while Antonio Fresu was aboard Shea Brennan. If not disqualified, Fresu would have won his third stakes and fourth race and overall on the card.
Pereira claimed foul for the incident and there was also a stewards’ inquiry.
“I got in a good position outside, and I could see Shea Brennan coming and he tried to find open space,” Pereira said. “There was a little situation of a bump on my horse that caused him to shift out of stride. I claimed foul because my horse was bumped and it cost me the race.
The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:46.12 following fractions of 23.37, 48.28 and 1:13.60 and 1:39.69.
A 3-year-old colt by Stay Thirsty, Whiskyginandbrandy is owned by Anthony J. Chacon, Victor M. Flores and breeder Terry Lovinger. He broke his maiden going six furlongs in November at Del Mar and most recently finished fourth behind winner Shea Brennan in the King Glorious Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos on Dec. 15.
“My horse had a lot of trouble in his last start,” trainer Steve Knapp said of the King Glorious. “He got scared in that race and he has really been training great since. I knew he was ready for another great race. I saw the other horse knock my horse off stride. That’s a fantastic horse (Shea Brennan) too, but that bump clearly decided the race.”
Whiskyginandbrandy paid $42.20, $11.00 and $7.20. Shea Brennan, trained by Phil D’Amato, returned $4.60 and $3.40. Finishing third was Style Cat under Juan Hernandez for trainer Peter Miller. He paid $7.20 to show.
