by Tim Nichols

Mr. Chairman rallied to edge 8-to-5 favorite Romance Is Diane by a head to win the $250,000 California Cup Classic Handicap on Sunday, the marquee race of the annual California Cup card for California-bred horses, at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Mr. Chairman entered the stretch four-wide in second and powered past Romance Is Diane under right-handed urging by Michael Baze. Mr. Chairman completed the 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface in 1:47.93.

“The last sixteenth of a mile, my horse just took off and he finished up great,” Baze said. “After the wire, he didn’t want to pull up.”

Baze rated Mr. Chairman in fifth while Cheroot led through a half-mile in 46.84 and six furlongs in 1:10.41.

Romance Is Diane raced in third with three furlongs to go before taking the lead entering the stretch. The Grade 1 winner had a Classic victory in her sights but was overtaken by Mr. Chairman in final strides.

Romance Is Diane finished second, one length ahead of third-place finisher Add Heat.

Trained by Doug O’Neill for Great Friends Stable, Mr. Chairman improved to five wins in 12 career starts and increased his bankroll to $338,578. He is out of the winning Corporate Report mare Chairwoman.

In the $150,000 Cal Cup Matron Handicap, Famous Ruby scored an upset at odds of 16.90-to-1 by a neck. The Western Fame filly covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.40.

Distant Victory rallied from last to win the $150,000 Cal Cup Distance Handicap and 1¼ miles on firm turf in 2:01.69.

Saucey Evening won the $125,000 Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes by 2¾ lengths and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.14 as the 13-to-10 favorite.

Swift Winds closed with a rush to overtake 4-to-5 favorite Bold Chieftain in the $175,000 Cal Cup Mile Handicap. The King of the Hunt gelding completed the mile in 1:33.84 on turf.

Tribesman led at every point of call en route to a 1¼-length victory in the $150,000 Cal Cup Sprint Handicap. He finished six furlongs in 1:07.85.

In the $150,000 Cal Cup Distaff Handicap, Lightmyfirebaby rallied from fourth in early stretch to score a half-length win under Joel Rosario in 1:12.58 for 6½ furlongs.

Lucky Primo scored a 1½-length win in the $125,000 Cal Cup Juvenile Stakes and covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.36.

For Equibase charts, click here

Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY assistant editor