Berkeley, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
saddled three horses for Saturday’s $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate
Fields, and it was his Cross the Line that gave the conditioner an eighth win
in the stakes.
Breaking from the inside post in the eight-horse field, Cross the Line and
jockey Juan Hernandez stalked the pace going up the backstretch in the 1 1/16-
mile stakes.
Cross the Line, co-owned by Hollendorfer, went wide around the final turn to
engage 42-1 longshot Midnight Destiny for the lead. Hollendorfer’s colt went
past the longshot and posted a 1 3/4-length victory, followed by 2-1 favorite
Soul Driver and stablemate Stand and Salute.
Completing the order of finish were Broughton Kitten, Steel, Midnight Destiny,
Sandor the Hound and Rye Patch. Steel was Hollendorfer’s third horse in the
race.
The time for the Cal Derby was 1:44.79 on Golden Gate’s synthetic main track.
The California Derby is the local prep for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby
at Golden Gate. The El Camino Real Derby is part of the “Road to the Kentucky
Derby” series.
Cross the Line, the 9-2 fourth choice, registered his second career win in his
fourth start. The $60,000 from Saturday’s victory puts his earnings at
$83,920.
Hollendorfer has now won the event four straight years with earlier wins from
Russian Greek (2012), Zeewat (2013) and Exit Stage Left (2014). The trainer
also found the winner’s circle with Cause to Believe (2006), Chocolate Candy
(2009), Pike Place Dancer (1996) and Bwana Bull (2007).
Cross The Line returned $11.40, $4.80 and $3.60. Soul Driver paid $3.60 and
$2.80, and Stand And Salute paid $3.00 to show.
