California Derby

California Derby
Ungraded race
Location Golden Gate Fields
Berkeley, California
Inaugurated 1876
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.goldengatefields.com
Race information
Distance 1 1/16 Miles (8.5 Furlongs)
Track Synthetic, left-handed
Qualification Three-year-olds
Weight Assigned
Purse $100,000

The California Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Golden Gate Fields. An ungraded stakes, it's open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the Tapeta surface. The Derby offers a purse of $100,000.

Northern California's first major test for horses hoping to run for the Triple Crown, the California Derby is also the main local prep race for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby also run at Golden Gate.

The California Derby has been run since 1873. At that time it was set at twelve furlongs or a mile and a half and was won by Camilla Urso. Mollie McCarty won the 1876 edition and in 1909, African-American jockey James Lee won the race aboard High Private. Royal Orbit, who ran third in the California Derby, won the 1959 Preakness, and in 1909 Joe Madden, who ran second in the California Derby to High Private, won the Belmont Stakes. The 1996 winner, Pike Place Dancer won the Kentucky Oaks.

Winners of the California Derby since 1991

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2015 Cross the Line 3 Juan J. Hernandez Jerry Hollendorfer Hollendorfer/Todaro,Live Your Dream Racing et al 1:44.79
2014 Exit Stage Left 3 Russell Baze Jerry Hollendorfer Hollendorfer/Dedomenico 1:44.07
2013 Zeewat 3 Russell Baze Jerry Hollendorfer Hollendorfer/Todaro 1:46.50
2012 Russian Greek 3 Aaron Gryder Jerry Hollendorfer Olympia Star, Inc. 1:45.07
2011 Positive Response 3 Julien Couton William E. Morey Gevertz/Morey/
Newman/Pagano
1:44.56
2010 Ranger Heartley 3 Julio Garcia John W. Sadler David Alpert/Herb Alpert 1:45.40
2009 Chocolate Candy 3 Russell Baze Jerry Hollendorfer Craig Family Trust 1:43.98
2008 Yankee Bravo 3 Alex Solis Patrick Gallagher Harlequin Ranches et al. 1:44.57
2007 Bwana Bull 3 David Lopez Jerry Hollendorfer Mark De Domenico et al. 1:44.70
2006 Cause to Believe 3 Russell Baze Jerry Hollendorfer P. Redekop/Peter Abruzzo 1:41.07
2005 No Race - No Race No Race No Race 0:00.00
2004 Trieste's Honor 3 Russell Baze Mike Puype Cobra Farm 1:47.95
2003 Mr. Technique 3 Roberto Gonzalez Jeff Bonde James Vreeland 1:47.65
2002 Tracemark 3 Jason Lumpkins Craig Dollase Edward T. McGrath 1:47.93
2001 Takin It Deep 3 Jose Arriaga Gil Matos M. A. Douzas 1:49.25
2000 Bet On Red 3 Ron Warren, Jr. Brent Sumja James Egide/Barry Thiriot 1:48.00
1999 Red Sky's 3 Russell Baze Jeff Bonde Barton D. Heller 1:47.16
1998 Prime Meridian 3 Rafael Meza Brent Surnja Kenwood Racing 1:48.64
1997 I'm a Jewel 3 Agapito Delgadillo William Delia Will.Delia & E.Garrison 1:52.55
1996 Pike Place Dancer 3 Corey Nakatani Jerry Hollendorfer Hollendorfer & Todaro 1.50.33
1995 Fine n' Majestic 3 Eddie Delahoussaye Bill Shoemaker Bienstock & Papiano 1:42.49
1994 Screaming Don 3 Adalberto Lopez Lanny Sharp Heim, Said & Sharp 1:48.31
1993 Denmars Dream 3 Alex Solis Ian Jory Terry Dennis Deering 1:49.96
1992 Treekster 3 Gary Boulanger Vladimir Cerin Mary Ann Racing Stable 1:48.19
1991 Green Alligator 3 Corey Nakatani Murray Johnson Anderson Fowler 1:47.90

Winners before 1991

  • 1990 - Stalwart Charger
  • 1989 - Endow
  • 1988 - All Thee Power
  • 1987 - Simply Majestic
  • 1986 - Vernon Castle
  • 1985 - Hajjis Treasure
  • 1984 - Distant Ryder
  • 1983 - Paris Prince
  • 1982 - Rockwall
  • 1981 - Always a Cinch
  • 1980 - Jaklin Klugman
  • 1979 - Beau's Eagle
  • 1978 - Noble Bronze
  • 1977 - Cuzwuzwrong
  • 1976 - Telly's Pop
  • 1975 - Diabolo
  • 1974 - Agitate
  • 1973 - Linda's Chief
  • 1972 - Quack
  • 1971 - Unconscious
  • 1970 - George Lewis
  • 1969 - Jay Ray
  • 1968 - Proper Proof
  • 1967 - Reason to Hail
  • 1966 - Tragniew
  • 1965 - Perfect Sky
  • 1964 - Real Good Deal
  • 1963 - On My Honor
  • 1962 - Doc Jocoy
  • 1961 - Mr. Consistency
  • 1960 - Noble Noor
  • 1959 - Finnegan
  • 1958 - Nice Guy
  • 1957 - NOT RUN
  • 1956 - No Regrets
  • 1955 - Trackmaster
  • 1954 - Miz Clementine
  • 1949 - 1953 - NOT RUN
  • 1948 - May Reward
  • 1947 - NOT RUN
  • 1946 - War Spun
  • 1945 - NOT RUN
  • 1944 - Jade Boy
  • 1942 & 1943 - NOT RUN
  • 1941 - Pirate
  • 1939 & 1940 - NOT RUN
  • 1938 - Grim Reaper
  • 1937 - Rockwood
  • 1936 - Lloyd Pan
  • 1935 - Toro Flight
  • 1923 - Victoire
  • 1910 - Turrets
  • 1909 - High Private
  • 1908 - Meelick
  • 1907 - Temaceo
  • 1906 - Good Luck
  • 1905 - Dr Leggo
  • 1904 - Bombardier
  • 1903 - Claude
  • 1902 - Sombrero
  • 1901 - Joe Frey
  • 1900 - NOT RUN
  • 1899 - Corsini
  • 1898 - Traverser
  • 1897 - Scarborough
  • 1890 - Muta
  • 1889 - Hotspur
  • 1888 - Peel
  • 1887 - Jim Duffy
  • 1886 - May Blossom
  • 1885 - Ned Cook
  • 1884 - Phillip S
  • 1883 - Augusta E
  • 1882 - Duke of Monday
  • 1881 - Jim Douglas
  • 1880 - Sally Black
  • 1879 - Sister Anne
  • 1878 - Mark L
  • 1877 - Lena Dunbar
  • 1876 - Mollie McCarty
  • 1875 - Bradley
  • 1874 - NOT RUN
  • 1873 - Camilla Urso


References