After being sidelined for five months, California Crown made a noticeable comeback on Saturday, January 4, 2024, clinching victory in the St Catherine Cup with a commendable performance.
This win marks a significant resurgence for the talented horse, who had been off the track since his disappointing eighth-place finish in the Jamaica Derby, where he lost by a staggering 34 lengths in the Blue Riband event held over 12 furlongs on August 6, 2024.
Under the care of Jason DaCosta, California Crown (Hedge Fund – Dream Big) displayed his potential, triumphing in a race for horses aged three and older. He crossed the finish line 9 ¼ lengths ahead of his nearest competitor, clocking in a winning time of 1:05.4 (24.4 x 47.4 x 59.2) for the 6 furlong (1,200m) distance.
DaCosta expressed his satisfaction with California Crown's performance, noting the horse had faced some challenges since the Jamaica Derby.
"He [California Crown] had a little issue coming out of the Jamaica Derby, so we gave him all the time to heal and get better. Since we put him back in training, he has done exceptionally well, and hopefully, he'll keep sound and healthy and have a nice season this year," he said.
The trainer was also pleased with the time achieved by the colt, especially given that it was his first race after a long layoff.
"1:05.4 is always a good time, and I'm happy with it coming off a layoff," DaCosta added.
With this dominant victory, California Crown has graduated to Overnight Allowance class, and DaCosta is keen to see how he will fare in his next race. "We'll see how he comes out of this race and then pick a spot," the trainer concluded.
Ridden by Robert Halledeen, California Crown took an early lead, setting a steady pace for the race. Princess Amahle (Dane Dawkins), Blu Sensation (Ismael Velasquez), and Himaya (Jordan Barrett) followed closely as they rounded out the compact field, which had been reduced due to the withdrawals of Warsaw and Fearless Attack.
As they approached the half-mile (800m) mark, California Crown began to pull away from the competition. Entering the home stretch with a sizeable lead, the four-year-old chestnut colt cruised to an effortless win, while Princess Amahle and Blu Sensation finished in second and third place, respectively.
