KINGSTON, Jamaica - In a performance that hinted at a bright future, three-year-old chestnut colt California Crown made a triumphant debut at the races on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The well-bred colt easily brushed aside his rivals in a Maiden Condition race reserved for native-bred three-year-olds, securing a victory by a commanding 4 ½ lengths.
Bred by Lakeland Farms and owned by Carlton Watson, California Crown is a product of the successful partnership between Hedge Fund and Dream Big. The colt's impressive debut was the culmination of careful preparation.
Under the skilled guidance of jockey Robert Halledeen, California Crown broke cleanly from the gate and settled into a comfortable second position behind Blood Moon (Raddesh Roman) in the early stages of the race. However, the colt wasted no time asserting his dominance, surging to the front as they approached the half-mile turn, leaving Blood Moon and Bold Move (Omar Walker) in his wake.
Turning for home, California Crown faced little opposition. The heavily favoured colt (starting at 1-9 odds) cruised to victory under a hand ride from Halledeen, crossing the finish line in a smooth 1:09.3 (23.4 x 48.2). Bold Move held on for second place, with Smart Trick (Reyan Lewis) rounding out the trifecta in third.
Trainer Jason DaCosta was understandably pleased with California Crown's performance. "He's a talented colt, and we always believed he had the potential to be special," DaCosta said. "Today, he showed us what he's capable of. We're excited about his future prospects."
The win marks an exciting start for California Crown's racing career, and all eyes will be on the colt as he continues to develop and compete at higher levels. With his impressive pedigree and natural talent, California Crown has the potential to be a star on the racetrack, and Saturday's victory was a promising indicator of things to come.
