California Crown a cinch for Kaz Hoshay Trophy

CALIFORNIA CROWN, who made MONEY MARKET look ordinary when dismissing his fellow local-bred in an overnight allowance at five furlongs round in June, returned after a six-race dalliance among open-allowance runners, effectively ending his time in ‘conditions jail’.

Free to plunder overnight allowance for the second time in five months after showing MONEY MARKET a clean pair of heels for five furlongs, clocking 1:00.3 on the round course with 126lb, allowing his rival 15lb, CALIFORNIA CROWN has returned to the scene of the crime in Saturday’s Kaz Hoshay Trophy at five and a half furlongs.

After winning with first-call Robert Halledeen in June, CALIFORNIA CROWN was twice handed to female claiming rider, Abigail Able, several rungs down the pecking order at Jason DaCosta’s barn, first a six-furlong won by WALL STREET TRADER, followed by a pace-setting role for stablemate FUNCAANDUN to nail DESERT OF MALIBU at a mile in July.

Halledeen was back aboard on Emancipation Day, August 1, finishing fifth in the BGLC Trophy at five and a half furlongs, no match on the lead for PACK PLAYS, who stayed on to beat MOJITO, who has twice framed that form, his last win being the Jamaica Cup.

With Shane Ellis aboard on September 20, CALIFORNIA CROWN finished fifth and last in an open allowance won by RIDEALLDAY, beating MONEY MARKET. RIDEALLDAY next ran in the Gold Cup, finishing second to last year’s Mouttet Mile runner-up, LEGACY ISLE.

CALIFORNIA CROWN was among the leaders at the half-mile marker in his next race before being eased in the stretch run, the I’msatisfied Trophy won by stablemate, MAMMA MIA, beating MONEY MARKET, the second consecutive race in which Gary Subratie’s runner was turning the table after being outclassed in June.

CALIFORNIA CROWN tested the pace of the recent Port Royal Sprint, straightening five and a half lengths in sixth place behind PACK PLAYS leading DOTHRAKI, DESERT OF MALIBU, MONEY MARKET and eventual winner, RIDEALLDAY, into the lane.

Eased by Omar Walker, CALIFORNIA CROWN weakened over the last of six furlongs but clearly showed that returning among overnight-allowance company, after facing off with grade-one horses in his last six starts, sitting level or heavier than higher-rated rivals, should make him a cinch for the Kaz Hoshay.