It’s a Dead Heat in CA Cup Derby

By Nynl Stables on January 13, 2024

CA Cup Derby ($200.000 Purse)
SA- For Three Years Olds Foaled in CA
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
January 13, 2024

The starting gate was full for the CA Cup Derby and the winner’s circle was also a popular place to be as both Gold Vault and Gunga Jung get credit for the victory, in a dead heat. They used different tactics to get that point, with Gunga Jung being on the lead and Gold Vault coming from the middle of the field, and there would be no separating them at the end. It is the first time that this race has finished in a dead heat, something that isn’t necessarily a given in our virtual world. Gold Vault is trained by Fractious and was ridden by F Prat, and the Gunga Jung is trained by Noblepark and was ridden by J Valdivia Jr. For all but Prat, it is their first win in this race. Prat is a two-time winner. Congratulations to them! The race winning time was 1:41.70, a middle of the road such time for the stake. Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :23.33)- A few of them make an effort to grab the early lead, but only one of them can have it, and that will be the Mb Stables- trained Party For You. Within a half-length to his inside is Got Next, for Fractious, and right there with them is one of our dual winners, Gunga Jung for Noblepark. On the rail, the fourth place Officer Chaimura, from Asgar, is also with a length, behind this lead group is Count The Corn, for Chili King Stables. It’s another length or so to a trio running in the middle of the field, and that’s where we find our other winner, Gold Vault, from Fractious. Waldo’s Ribeye and The Sidley Stud’s Ginger Fire are close by. It’s about two lengths to the rest of the field, with Casual Dreams (Alydar Stables), running ahead of Star Traveler (TwinTowersRacing), Machine Bay (Smokey Stover), and King Boo (Sim Speed Stable).

(½ Mile- :47.09)- Down the backstretch, Party For You and Gunga Jung briefly exchange the lead with one another before Party For You continues to get credit for leading the way at this point. Got Next has lost a little bit of ground to them but is still in the mix and so too is Officer Chaimura. Count The Corn still runs by himself and with a length advantage on Gold Vault. Ribeye and Ginger Fire still run close to that one, with a gap to the rest of the field.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Before we could get to the turn, Gunga Jung began to turn it on, and pulled in front of Party For You. Once there, he would only extend his lead and was looking very good as he entered the top of the stretch. His advantage was now two lengths, as not only could Party For You not keep up, neither could Got Next or Officer Chaimura. However, there was still cause for concern for that one, as Gold Vault was picking up and making his move. He quickly was able to get around Count The Corn for the fifth position, then moved to the fourth lane to get over the others that had failed to keep up with Gunga Jung. It was two and a half lengths to the rest of the field, and while the race was not over yet, it would take an incredible effort for one of them to grab the win.

(Finish- 1:41.70)- With a furlong to go, this race appears to be all Gunga Jung. All that was left to do was watch him run, right? Gold Vault did not seem to be making enough progress, but in that last furlong that gap would closer quicker than expected, perhaps also because the leader was getting a little leg weary. In the end, they would end up hitting the line together, and the dead heat would be declared. Running third here would be Machine Bay, a horse that ran exceptionally well in the stretch but simply conceded too much ground before that point. It was two and a half lengths to the fourth place Casual Dreams, who’s result is really more of a best of the rest type thing than making a close of his own. King Boo edged out Got Next, with the rest of the order reading Officer Chaimura, Ribeye, Party For You, Ginger Fire, Star Traveler, and Count The Corn.

About The Winners:
Gunga Jung, trained by Noblepark and ridden by J Valdivia Jr, is a three-year-old colt by Jung and is out of Stoned Heart. He was bred in California as a third quarter two-year-old by Noblepark, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! He is now 2-for-2 in his career, with this being his first stake win. His career earnings are now $83.000.

Gold Vault, trained by Fractious and ridden by to victory by F Prat, is a three-year-old gelding by Chase My Tail Lights and is out of Miss Fireball. He was bred by Allinthegate as a yearling in California, and was acquired by Fractious while he was still unraced in the December 2022 auction for $42.010. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his second in nine starts and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $254.230.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Gold Vault

Fractious

Prat F

9.10

1^3/4