Go See Cal Cup for Repeaters

Budroyale is getting ready for next Saturday’s $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park and won’t defend his title in the California Cup Classic today at Santa Anita, but there are several other Cal-breds who will try to become repeat winners in other races.

Indiahoma, who won the Cal Cup Mile at 3-1 in 1998, but is winless in 10 tries since, hopes to duplicate the feat this afternoon in the eighth of 10 races.

Trained by Henry Moreno, who co-owns the gelding with breeder Howard Beddo, Indiahoma drew Post 7 in the field of 11 for the race on the turf.

Native Desert will be favored in the $175,000 race. A $32,000 claim by trainer Juan Garcia for owner Miguel Rubio in 1996, the 6-year-old gelded son of Desert Classic had to settle for third in the Mile, but will try for redemption today. A victory would be the 16th in 43 lifetime starts for Native Desert and push his earnings over $918,000.

Three races earlier, Bountiful Dreamer will try to repeat her victory in last year’s $150,000 Distaff against 13 fillies and mares in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

Owned by Oakcrest Stable and trained by John Sadler, Bountiful Dreamer was 10-1 when she won the Distaff by half a length 12 months ago and she is the same price on the morning line today.

Three other horses, Lacquaria, Seattle Carla and Testimony, will also be trying to become double Cal Cup winners. Lacquaria, who won the Juvenile Fillies last year, is a contender in the Distaff, a race that also includes 1997 heroine Seattle Carla, and 1996 Sprint winner Testimony will have four opponents in the first race of the day, the $50,000 Starter Sprint Handicap.

With a rematch between Budroyale and General Challenge, who put on a good show in the recent Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, having to wait until next week in Florida, the $250,000 Cal Cup Classic, the day’s main event, attracted its weakest field.

Del Mar Gray, beaten in his last nine starts on the main track, is the 8-5 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race, and Bagshot, who has lost 20 of 22 lifetime and is winless since he won the I’m Smokin’ Stakes at Del Mar on a disqualification in 1996, is the 3-1 second choice.

Even so, Ed Friendly, who owns Del Mar Gray with his wife Natalie, was wishing the other day that last year’s Classic winner was defending his title.

“I’m a little disappointed that Budroyale’s not in the race,” he said. “We’d like to have had a shot at whupping his butt. We’d like to face off with him again someday.”

Second to Budroyale in the Super Diamond Handicap at Hollywood Park earlier this year, Del Mar Gray, who is trained by Bob Baffert, has won two of his last three, both on the turf. A fast pace would help his chances and the presence of longshot Lesters Boy guarantees they will be moving well early.

Rounding out the field are the Jenine Sahadi-trained duo of Warm April, who was second in the California Cup Juvenile last year, and Smoky Cinder, who has won 13 of 32 while racing in Canada, Prestigious Chief and Splendid Splinter.

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The shortest price on the Cal Cup card could be Cover Gal, who will try to remain unbeaten in the $125,000 Juvenile Fillies.

In the other race for 2-year-olds, the Juvenile, Stormy Jack will try to rebound from his first loss against 11 opponents. Dominant in two wins at Del Mar, the son of Bertrando finished a distant second to Hugh Hefner in the California Sires Stakes.

Stormy Jack won’t have to worry about Hugh Hefner, who will run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Stormy Jack will race coupled in the wagering with recent maiden winner Naughty Nacho.

Horse Racing Notes

There will be a $1-million guaranteed pool for today’s Pick Six, which will include races 5-10, and post time is noon. . . . The five-race American Challenge Championships will be run tonight at Los Alamitos featuring many of the best quarter horses. The five races are the $300,000 MBNA America Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards, the $175,000 Sooner Trailer Derby Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds at 400 yards, the $150,000 American Airlines Challenge Championship for 2-year-olds at 350 yards, the $175,000 MCI WorldCom Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds and up at 870 yards and the $50,000 Professional’s Choice Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds and up at 350 yards. Post time is 6:30 p.m.