Zeewat overcomes trouble in California Derby

Heavily favored Zeewat overcame trouble at the start of the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields to win the 1 1/16th miles race with a strong late rally.

Ridden to victory by Russell Baze, Zeewat broke just a step slowly at the start of the race and was forced to check hard when Wildcat Moon drifted sharply inward immediately after the start. As a result, Zeewat -- who normally races close to the pace -- found himself back in fourth as Wildcat Moon led the way through fractions of :25.43, :50.60, and 1:15.25 seconds. Tree of Life and Will True Up were his closest pursuers, while My Best Bet, Butterfly Soul, and Condiment were the trailers.

Rounding the final turn, Baze guided Zeewat to the far outside, and the colt responded with a burst of speed that put him in contention at the top of the stretch. Wildcat Moon stayed on gamely in the final eighth of a mile, attempting to hold off the favorite's rally, but Zeewat was simply too good, getting up in time to win a length in 1:46.50 seconds.

Tree of Life finished third, followed by Butterfly Soul, Will True Up, Condiment, and My Best Bet.

Zeewat is a son of Harlan's Holiday out of Delizia, by Distant View. He is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and owned by George Todaro and Jerry Hollendorfer.

-Keelerman

California Derby entries: Zeewat goes for third stakes win

Two-time stakes winner Zeewat will attempt to add a third stakes to his record when he takes on six rivals in the $100,000 California Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Coming off of an impressive victory in the one-mile Gold Rush Stakes on December 8th, in which he showed strong homestretch acceleration in to win by 3 1/4 lengths, Zeewat is expected to be heavily favored in Saturday's 1 1/16th miles race.

Condiment and My Best Bet, the second- and third-place finishers from the Gold Rush, are back to take on Zeewat again. Stakes winners Tree of Life and Butterfly Soul; Eddie Logan Stakes third-place finisher Will True Up; and the consistent two-time winner Wildcat Moon complete the lineup.

Post Positions:
1 Will True Up
2 Condiment
3 Zeewat
4 Wildcat Moon
5 Tree of Life
6 Butterfly Soul
7 My Best Bet

-Keelerman

Avare much the best in Eddie Logan Stakes

It seems that trainer Doug O'Neill may have another serious Kentucky Derby contender in his barn. On Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park, his promising colt Avare sprinted to a flashy victory in an off-the-turf renewal of the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, turning in a rather quick clocking over the wet-fast track and stamping himself a colt to watch this winter.

Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, Avare got off to a quick start from post position four and quickly sprinted clear of his rivals to the inside. Will True Up and One Firm Cat also flashed a bit of early speed, but soon dropped back as heavily favored Gabriel Charles moved into contention on the far outside. Trailing the field was Under Review.

Following moderate fractions of :23.50 and :47.44, Gabriel Charles attempted to put pressure on Avare as the pair rounded the far turn, but Avare easily shook off the challenge and opened up a clear advantage at the top of the stretch. From there, the race was over, as Avare gradually extended his lead all the way to the wire, eventually winning the one-mile race by about five lengths in the good time of 1:36.39 seconds.

Gabriel Charles finished second, followed by Will True Up, Under Review, and One Firm Cat.

The winner is a son of Johannesburg out of the Robellino mare V Sign. He is owned by Majestic Racing Stable and RAP Racing.

-Keelerman