YANKEE BRAVO FAVORED IN
CALIFORNIA DERBY AT GGF
The undefeated colt Yankee Bravo is a 5-to-2 favorite on the morning line to capture the 94th running of the $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
Post time is 12:15 p.m. and fans attending the track will receive a free Golden Gate Fields fleece blanket.
The California Derby, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, is Northern California’s first prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Yankee Bravo heads a full field of 12 in the feature, which is scheduled to be run at 3:51 p.m.
Yankee Bravo, a Kentucky-bred colt by Yankee Gentleman, has won both of his starts in impressive fashion. Yankee Bravo made his career debut in England and drew off to win a five-furlong turf race at Redcar by six lengths.
The maiden victory was notable considering Yankee Bravo broke poorly in a field of 11, recovered quickly to gain a stalking position, and then took command a furlong from the finish.
Yankee Bravo made his U.S. debut in the one-mile Eddie Logan Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 and rallied from seventh in a field of eight to score by a half-length over Sky Cape, who came back to win his next start.
Yankee Bravo is trained by Irishman Paddy Gallagher, who tasted victory in the 1994 California Derby with Fine N’ Majestic. Gallagher was the top assistant to Fine N’ Majestic’s trainer, Bill Shoemaker.
Yankee Bravo is owned in partnership by Harlequin Ranches (Richard Bonnycastle),
David Bienstock, Richard Duggan and Chuck Winner. Bienstock and Winner will be looking for their second California Derby victory as they were part of the ownership team that campaigned Fine N’ Majestic.
Gallagher will have three representatives in the California Derby as he’ll also send out
Irish-breds Spinning Sound and Robscarvic, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park in November.
The California Derby field, in post position order, is as follows: Cafe Tortoni, Luis Contreras will ride, 12-to-1; Robscarvic, Victor Espinoza, 5-to-1; Victory Pete, Joe Talamo, 7-to-2; Medjool, Michael Baze, 10-to-1; Many Rivers, Frank Alvarado, 12-to-1; Overland, Chad Schvaneveldt, 20-to-1; Capture The Call, Russell Baze, 10-to-1; Tres Borrachos, Martin Garcia, 8-to-1; Bert’s Law, Kyle Kaenel, 15-to-1; Spinning Sound, Tyler Baze, 12-to-1; Yankee Bravo, Alex Solis, 5-to-2; and Moonlit Master, Mario Gutierrez, 12-to-1. All of the starters will carry 121 pounds.
Many Rivers and Moonlit Master are both trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who is trying to win the California Derby for the third straight year. Hollendorfer won the race last year with Bwana Bull and in 2006 with Cause to Believe.