In First Official Start, Start The Ride (13-1) Runs Down Favorite Sammy Davis To Win The California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Going 1 1/16 Miles Saturday At Santa Anita

IN FIRST OFFICIAL START, START THE RIDE (13-1) RUNS DOWN FAVORITE SAMMY DAVIS TO WIN THE CALIFORNIA CHROME CAL CUP DERBY GOING 1 1/16 MILES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

*Start the Ride, a homebred for Harris Farms, provided trainer Dan Blacker with his second stakes win on California Cup Day *

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 17, 2026)—After being declared a non-starter in his debut, Start the Ride ran down even-money favorite Sammy Davis inside the final furlong and won the $175,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Armando Ayuso, Start the Ride (13-1) is a homebred colt by Upstart for owner-breeder Harris Farms. He is trained by Dan Blacker, who about 30 minutes earlier also won the California Cup Oaks with Cee Drew.

Sammy Davis, who was making his two-turn debut for trainer John Sadler, broke on the lead but jockey Hector Berrios allowed 50-1 longshot Almost There. Sammy Davis bided his time on the inside before taking the lead entering the second turn and then opening up his advantage to the quarter pole.

But with the additional distance still ahead of Sammy Davis, he began to falter. Start the Ride gradually cut into his lead in the stretch and then surged to the front to win going away by 1 ¾ lengths. Sammy Davis held second by 1 ½ lengths over Pavlovian (11-1).

Start the Ride won in a time of 1:44.55 following fractions of 23.69, 48.38, 1:12.69 and 1:38.18.

When attempting to debut on Nov. 16 at Del Mar going a mile, Start the Ride was declared a non-starter after the assistant starter held on to his reins for too long after the gates opened. He was 13 lengths back in last through the opening quarter mile that day before rallying to cross the wire in fourth.

Start the Ride paid $29.20, $12.40 and $7.20. Sammy Davis returned $3.80 and $2.80. Pavlovian, with Mirco Demuro aboard for trainer Doug O’Neill, paid $4.80.

$175,000 CALIFORNIA CHROME CAL CUP DERBY STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

ARMANDO AYUSO, START THE RIDE, WINNER: “We have been really high on this horse since the beginning. Unfortunately, we had a scratch at the gate in the last race.

“The stretch in this race was wonderful. The more ground you give him, the better he is. I knew he couldn’t wait to go all the way. I was just comfortable with the way he ran. He put me in a good position, and he was really brave when I asked him to go between the horses. I love this horse.”

TRAINER QUOTES

DAN BLACKER, START THE RIDE, WINNER: “I’m just really thankful to everyone at Harris Farms. There was a point in my career where I had like four horses and they were all Harris Farms, so I owe them a lot. I’m really proud to win a big race for Harris Farms in John’s memory it’s a big deal and I’m very proud.”

OWNER QUOTES

JONNY HILVERS, GM OF HARRIS FARMS, START THE RIDE, WINNER: “He’s a pretty nice colt, we have always been high on him since he was a youngster. We are just so happy he could get it done here today and very happy Mrs. Harris and friends could be here to celebrate it. “I think John (Harris) was definitely riding him that last sixteenth of a mile and got him there.”

DARREN FILKINS, CEO OF HARRIS FARMS, START THE RIDE, WINNER: “I know John is here in spirit. We have a lot of people in Coalinga and Singer, and a lot of people have said Harris Farms is going away. We are not going away. Harris Farms is here and we are excited to keep running. This is part of the heritage and legacy that Harris is going to continue. This one is for John.”

NOTES: The winning owner and breeder is Harris Farms, Inc.