Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside homebred COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway) set a fast pace, was
confronted by a driving Informed (Tiznow) inside the final furlong, and
repelled that one to post a gritty, nose victory in the $150,000
San Pasqual H.
(G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent to the front immediately after the start
under John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher trainee set fractions of :23 1/5, :46
1/5, 1:10 1/5 and 1:34 4/5 for the opening mile, prior to finishing off 1
1/16 miles in 1:41 1/5 over the Pro-Ride. The near 3-1 second choice paid
$7.60, $5 and $3.60 while topping $1 exotics worth $90.90 (exacta), $2,570 (trifecta)
and $11,300.80 (4-3-8-7 superfecta).
Informed was unhurried while in sixth after the opening six furlongs, made a
bold move approaching the final turn and appeared to have the race won, but
could not overcome Cowboy Cal in the late stages. The nearly 29-1 second-longest
shot was good for $22.80 and $12.20. Magnum (Arg) (El Compinche) rallied well
late to gain third by a neck over 3-2 favorite Well Armed (Tiznow). Show paid
$12 on the 77-1 longshot. Mostacolli Mort (Hold For Gold) was a length back in
fifth and followed by Racketeer (Awesome Again), Past the Point (Indian
Charlie), Marchfield (A.P. Indy) and Ball Four (Grand Slam). Blue Exit (Pulpit),
Noble Court (Doneraile Court) and Slew’s Tizzy (Tiznow) scratched.
Cowboy Cal picked up his third graded win in this test, adding to previous
tallies in the Bryan Station S. (G3) and Tropical Park Derby (G3). An excellent
second last out in the Hollywood Derby (G1), the four-year-old also finished a
close second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) last season. His career line reads 10-5-3-0,
$597,708.
Bred in Kentucky, Cowboy Cal is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Texas Tammy,
who has unnamed two-year-old and yearling fillies by Purge. Texas Tammy was
produced by multiple Grade 3 queen and Grade 1-placed Hot Novel (Mari’s Book),
making her a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 hero and $3.2 million earner
Behrens (Pleasant Colony). This is also the family of 2005 Whitney H. (G1)
winner Commentator (Distorted Humor).
Michael McCarthy, assistant trainer to Pletcher, indicated that the
Strub S. (G2) on February 7 looks like the next logical step for Cowboy Cal,
with the $1 million Santa Anita H. (G1) on March 7 as the ultimate goal.