My goodness has the Cal Derby lost it's luster. I don't know what the purse is now, but in the 80's, it was a Grade II for $400,000 and the race was run the 1st or 2nd week in April. They always got good sized fields, with many So. Cal shippers, and capacity crowds at Golden Gate for Derby day. I remember notable runners such as Telly's Pop, Beau's Eagle, Jaklin Klugman, Vernon Castle, Simply Majestic and Green Alligator winning this race. Some of these ran well, in the Ky Derby, but I don't think any Cal Derby winner has won in Kentucky. The race seems to get lost in the shuffle the past few years.
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