Touching Rainbows bests Richard's Boy in California Cup Sprint

Deftly handled by Tiago Pereira, Touching Rainbows closed a four length gap with a quarter mile to run and overhauled pacesetting Richard’s Boy to win Saturday’s $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint by 1 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita. Trained by Phil D’Amato, the 6-year-old gelding by Aragorn got six furlongs in 1:09.88.

One of four stakes on Saturday restricted to horses owned or bred in California, the Cal Cup Sprint is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.

"The race set up pretty well. Tiago had him in the right spot and I liked that he pressed the button at the right time," D'Amato said. "He got him close enough to the other horse to engage him and wear him down.

"Hat’s off to Tiago. He’s not the easiest horse to ride. You have to press the button at the right time and Tiago did just that."

With Richard’s Boy blasting off to a commanding 2 ½ length lead after the first half mile, Pereira was content to bide his time aboard Touching Rainbows, who sat a close third, just to the outside of well fancied Heck Yeah going into the far turn.  With a roughly two length margin to overcome a furlong out, Touching Rainbows kept to his task while Richard’s Boy shortened stride late.

Off at 3-1 in a field of six older horses, Touching Rainbows, who is out of the Gold Case mare Violin Case, paid $8.00, $3.80 and $2.60 while picking up his first stakes win. 

"I got the feeling for the race, I had good speed in the race and I tried to close," Pereira said. "I think the number five had more speed today but my horse was running easy."

Owned by KM Racing Enterprise, Inc., Madaket Stables, LLC and Slam Dunk Racing, Touching Rainbows, who was claimed for $25,000 13 starts back on Sept. 30, 2016, picked up his first stakes win, which was worth $90,000, increasing his earnings to $375,382.  With today’s victory, his overall race record now stands at 18-7-1-2.

In a valiant effort, Richard’s Boy, who was ridden by Heriberto Figueroa, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of favored Edwards Going Left for second money.  Off at 3-1, Richard’s Boy paid $3.80 and $2.60.  

Last early, Edwards Going Left finished a half length in front of Minoso.  Ridden by Tyler Baze, Edwards Going Left was off at 8-5 and paid $2.20 to show. 

Fractions on the race were 22.13, 44.96 and 57.11.