Cause To Believe Wins California Derby

2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park

The 2008 Breeders' Cup, thoroughbred racing's most prestigious event, consisting of 14 Breeders' Cup races and $25.5 million in purses, will be held on October 24-25, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

But before that, Belmont Stakes winner Da'Tara is going to race in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course while Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown will be racing in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Posted on Monday, March 13th, 2006

Cause to Believe moved a step closer to the Kentucky Derby after beating Sinister Minister with a strong stretch run Saturday in the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

The 3-year-old colt, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Russell Baze, was four lengths clear at the finish while winning for the fifth time in his last six outings. He ran 1 1-16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.07.

Sinister Minister, trained by Bob Baffert, took the lead at the outset and was in front by four lengths a quarter-mile from the finish. But Cause to Believe, who languished in last place down the backstretch, quickly closed the gap.

Owner Peter Redekop, who recently sold a quarter-interest in Cause to Believe, had been reluctant to nominate the horse to the Derby. But Hollendorfer said the late nominating fee of $6,000 will be paid later this month.

Following his impressive win Cause to Believe is likely to make a visit to Hawthorne for the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) on April 8.

Cause to Believe, a winner of six of nine races in his career - including five stakes victories - is not Triple Crown eligible. But the connections, which include part-owner Redekop, are expected to fork up the $6,000 late nomination fee prior to the March 25 deadline.

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"Cause To Believe Wins California Derby" was posted on Monday, March 13th, 2006 at 9:47 am and is filed under Golden Gates Field, Horses, Kentucky Derby, Stakes Races. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.