Passarando ships from Golden Gate to head Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby
At 0h27, on January 7, 2023 • By SANTA ANITA
A springboard to superstardom in 2014 for California Chrome, Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita may also have a star or two in the making as seven California-bred or sired sophomores go a mile and one sixteenth.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ Passarando, trained by Steve Specht and fresh off a stirring come from behind win versus open company going a mile on synthetic Tapeta Dec. 3 in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, rates top billing on Saturday.
A winner versus statebreds of the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile here three starts back, he’ll be reunited with Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard for the Santa Anita win on Oct. 29.
A gelding by Tamarando out of the Lucky Pulpit mare I’m Passing Ya Now, Passarando is in top form and is scheduled to van down from Golden Gate early Friday morning. With two stakes wins to his credit, Passarando is 7-4-2-0 with earnings of $218,830.
