Listing Captures $100,000 Cal Cup Turf Sprint

ARCADIA, CA –  Listing loved the downhill turf course and cruised to victory in Saturday’s $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita. This was the second career win for the 3-year-old California bred son of Square Eddie whose last win came in the $100,00 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar in August.

The 5-2 post-time favorite Listing broke well from the fifth position and was the early leader as they made their way around the righthand turn of Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. Takeo Squared, who broke from the third position, was close behind and Our Silver Oak quickly got up toward the front on as they came down the hill into the lefthand turn. Listing maintained his lead but felt pressure on the inside as Takeo Squared, Our Silver Oak, and Teacher’s Treasure all vied for the lead. As they hit the dirt crossing, Teacher’s Treasure and Our Silver Oak both quickly fell to the rear with not enough left in the tank. Listing battled hard and ended a neck ahead of Takeo Squared at the wire. Tivan finished third followed by Irish Heatwave in fourth.

“I think being on the outside today helped him a lot,” said jockey Mario Gutierrez. “He was more comfortable, you know no pressure last time he did a little step before crossing the wire so I think that caused him that extra bow but today it was good.”

Listing is trained by Ben Cecil and owned by Reddam Racing. The win here today brought the gelding’s lifetime earnings to $137,400 and improved his lifetime record to 5-2-1-0.

“It was a bit closer than I hoped, but he may have gotten a little tired,” said trainer Ben Cecil. “I didn’t give [jockey Mario Gutierrez] any instructions. He knows the horse. He had a good efford last time down the hill and we had given him a little break prior to that, which he probaly needed. Maybe now he’ll improve even a bit more.”

Listing returned $7.00 to win, $4.00 to place, and $3.20 to show. Takeo Squared brought back $5.40 to place and $3.40 to show, while Tivan paid $4.80 to show.

Scratch: Offshore Affair