Mici’s Express Saves Ground & Rallies For 1 ½ Length Score In $200,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby

MICI’S EXPRESS SAVES GROUND & RALLIES FOR 1 ½ LENGTH SCORE IN $200,000 CALIFORNIA CHROME CAL CUP DERBY AS KNAPP & RISPOLI TEAM FOR VICTORY

RACE IS PART OF LUCRATIVE CTBA-SPONSORED GOLDEN STATE SERIES

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 13, 2024)—A disappointing third as the favorite in his most recent start, trainer Steve Knapp’s Mici’s Express got a perfect ground saving trip under Umberto Rispoli and rallied off the turn for home to an impressive 1 ½ length score in Saturday’s $200,000 California Chrome Cal Derby at Santa Anita. 

Named for the winner of the 2014 Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies, the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.

A bay colt by Slew’s Tiznow, Mici’s Express, who added blinkers today, earned his first stakes victory while getting a mile and one sixteenth in 1:46.75.

Unhurried in the early going, Rispoli was intent on keeping his mount covered up into and around the first turn and was able to hug the fence to the quarter pole.  A joint third, about 2 ½ lengths off of eventual third place finisher Last Call London, Mici’s Express tipped three-deep turning for home and drew away as much the best late.

A $5,000 yearling purchase, Mici’s Express is out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Harlan Express.  Owned by Tom Halasz, Mici’s Express was third as the 9-5 favorite in the one mile King Glorious versus statebreds at Los Alamitos in his most recent start on Dec. 17.

Off at 5-1 today in a field of five, he paid $13.00, $5.60 and $2.60.

With the winner’s share of $110,000, he increased his earnings to $248,530.

Second to mid-stretch, Stolen Treasure, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, finished second and paid $4.60 and $2.40 while off at 7-2.

Finishing third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Stolen Treasure, Last Call London, the even money favorite with Juan Hernandez, paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.62, 49.33, 1:13.99 and 1:40.27.