Big Fish closes late to win California Cup Derby

Patiently handled by leading man Juan Hernandez, Legacy Ranch’s Big Fish reeled ’em in late to take Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby by 1½ lengths at Santa Anita. Trained by David Hofmans, Big Fish got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:46.37.

A joint sixth, about four lengths off the lead going into the far turn, Hernandez bided his time, angled outside three sixteenths from home and Big Fish unleashed a powerful stretch kick to run down None Above the Law in the final sixteenth.

Fourth in the one-mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes here Dec. 27, Big Fish, a 3-year-old gelding by Mr. Big out of the Into Mischief mare Perched, had been on turf and faced open company in his last four races, with both of his wins coming on the grass.

Ridden for the first time by Hernandez, he was also fitted with blinkers, after having not run in them in his last two starts. Off at 4-1 in a field of eight, Big Fish paid $10 to win.

“He broke a little slow, and he was pulling a little bit at the start,” Hernandez said. “On the backside the pace was a little faster and he relaxed much better. Around the turn I had a lot of horses to go, but I didn’t have any room to come through. I had to wait a little bit longer around the turn, and when a little space opened, I asked him, and he came through.”

A one-mile turf stakes winner in his fourth start Sept. 7 at Del Mar, he now has added money victories on both surfaces.  With the winner’s share of $110,000, Big Fish increased his earnings to $229,018.

“I thought he preferred the turf, but since he was a Cal-bred we thought we’d take advantage of that,” Hofmans said. “He breezed well over (the dirt), the other day with Juan and seemed to get over it well. He’s just maturing. This horse is just now coming into himself. I think we have a better future going forward.

Attentive to the pace throughout with Kent Desormeaux, None Above the Law finished four lengths better than pacesetter Good With People and paid $8.80 and $4.80 while off at 9-1.

Ridden by Rickey Gonzalez, Good With People finished 1¼ lengths in front of Warrens Candy Man and paid $3.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.26, 47.50, 1:12.43 and 1:39.38.

Other Santa Anita stakes winners Saturday included Leggs Galore in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes, Closing Remarks in the California Cup Oaks, North County Guy in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes and Brickyard Ride in the California Cup Sprint Stakes.