Choo Choo triumphs in California Derby
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has added Calumet Farm to his roster of owners, and Choo Choo contributed yet another stakes victory for the famed Kentucky operation by taking the $100,225 California Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
“We were back there at a sale, and we met the folks at Calumet,” Hollendorfer said. “(Bloodstock agent) Christina (Jelm) looked at a lot of 2-yearolds, and they decided to send a couple to us last year.”
Choo Choo won one of five starts in Southern California before Hollendorfer decided to bring the colt north for his 3year-old debut.
“We thought about the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (on Feb. 3 at Santa Anita), but I told the people at Calumet that this race would be easier,” Hollendorfer said. “It’s important to them to get a good stakes win.”
Choo Choo was forced wide for much of Saturday’s 11⁄16-mile race as he kept within 1½ lengths of pacesetter Intimidate, who was dogged by long shot Generally Lucky until the second turn.
Intimidate maintained the lead to midstretch, where Choo Choo surged past him on the way to an apparently comfortable win. But Mugaritz, who was farther off the early pace than expected, closed well to become a threat inside the sixteenth pole before Choo Choo re-broke to win by 1¾ lengths.
“I wanted to save some ground, but the No. 4 (Generally Lucky) pushed me out,” winning jockey Juan Hernandez said. “I didn’t want to take him back and get behind horses, and when I smooched to him on the backstretch, he responded, so I kept him outside. At the three-eighths pole, I started to ask him, and when it was time to roll, he did. In the stretch, he came back on after he felt that other horse.”
The even-money favorite in the field reduced to six with the scratches of Campaigner and Ministersdontparty, Choo Choo finished in a good 1:44.50.
Briefly: Coniah won the Grade 3, $100,690 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita for trainer William E. Morey, who has added a small Southern California division to his Golden Gate Fields stable. Coniah was making her first start since June 18 and led from the start as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering. Morey won the previous race with Tinabud, giving him six victories from just 11 starters at Santa Anita’s winter-spring season.
“... When I smooched to him on the backstretch, he responded, so I kept him outside.” Juan Hernandez, Choo Choo’s jockey