The California male handicap division is really a one-horse list. Rail Trip has dominated the major stakes around two turns this spring at Hollywood Park in such emphatic style that it is hard to see him losing the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10.
Saturday, Rail Trip won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes over 1 1-8 miles by 2 3-4 lengths, but the final margin was not that close. Jockey Rafael Bejarano eased down on Rail Trip in the final sixteenth and still pulled farther clear from seven overmatched rivals.
Rail Trip has won 8 of 11 starts and $967,790. The money winnings will be much higher by the end of the summer.
Rail Trip ($2.40) was so heavily favored in the show pool, attracting $327,747 of the $374,120 bet to show, that there was a minus show pool of $57,899.
