By Allan Gray

The California Cup – Oak Tree at Santa Anita, Saturday

If you like California you have to be at the track on Saturday. The California Cup at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita will showcase eleven stakes for the best California bred horses on the track right now.

The race to watch will be the California Cup Classic featuring Lava Man . Lava Man, who captured major headlines last year with his sweep of all the major handicaps on the west coast will be the highlight of the afternoon.

Lava Man has not been the omnipresent threat he was last year since the mandatory switch to synthetic surfaces of all the California tracks, however against restricted company he still demands respect.

Trained by Doug O’Neil, Lava Man won the grade one Hollywood Gold Cup in June at Hollywood Park . Hollywood and Santa Anita both have installed Cushion Track where as Del Mar, where Lava Man finished a disappointing sixth the Pacific Classic, installed Polytrack. Does Lava Man prefer one or the other? We will have to see on Saturday.

Celtic Dreamin , trained by Rafael Becerra, comes into the California Cup Classic after a win in the grade two British Columbia Derby at Hastings Park in Vancouver . Celtic Dreamin is five of six against optional allowance and starter allowance company at Hollywood Park and Del Mar, but he hasn’t face the likes of a Lava Man before.

Bold Chieftain and Cheroot have both done well against other California breds at this level, however they seem to have better results on turf.

The Chilukki (G2) – Churchill Downs, Saturday

Change Up comes into the Chilukki off a third place finish in the Safely Kept Breeders Cup at Laurel Park in Maryland . Change Up, trained by Steve Margolis, has also hit the board running against some of this year’s Breeders’ Cup contenders including La Traviata (F/M Sprint), Lady Joanne (Distaff).

Her last win came in last year’s grade three Pocahantas Stakes at Churchill Downs where she got the best of Lady Joanne.

Pleasant Hill and High Heels finished first and second in the Gardenia Handicap at Ellis Park in August. Pleasant Hill, trained by Greg Foley came back with a sixth place finish in the Kentucky Cup Distaff behind Breeders’ Cup contender Danzon and High Heels went at the big girls head on in the grade one Spinster at Keeneland, a major prep for this years Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Ontario Fashion Stakes – Woodbine, Saturday

For those of you that prefer live racing and don’t necessarily come out for simulcast racing, this is one of those times you should. Culpeper Moon, winner of the Winnipeg Sun Stakes here at Assiniboia Downs, will be running in this one.

The Ontario Fashion Stakes is for older mare going six furlongs. Although not her best distance, trainer Marty Drexler might be trying to get a feeling for how good she really is and get a race under her as well. Culpeper Moon has not run since the Matron Breeders’ Cup on the last day of Assiniboia Downs. She was a fast closing fourth to Doctor Jane at six furlongs in the La Verandrye and with a little help up front could do the same at Woodbine.

Culpeper Moon will have her hands full with Financingavailable. Financingavailable, trained by Lorne Richards, has won two stakes and has finished second in two grade two stakes this year at Woodbine including the Seaway Stakes where she got the best of Executive Flight (4 th), Roving Angel (5 th) and Count to Three (3 rd). All three are again in this race together.