Bagshot ends 0-for-18 streak

— -- ARCADIA, Calif. -- Bagshot found his way to the winner's circle for the first time in three years Saturday with a 1½-length victory over Del Mar Gray in the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita. The California Cup, in its 10th year, is a series of 10 races worth more than $1.2 million for California-breds. Bagshot had lost 18 straight races and was without a victory since the I'm Smokin' Stakes at Del Mar in September 1996, when he was moved up from second on a disqualification. His only other win was in a maiden race in July 1996 at Hollywood Park. Ridden for the first time by Chris Antley, Bagshot covered 1-1/8 miles in 1:48 3-5 and paid $10.40, $4 and $2.60. Del Mar Gray, trained by Bob Baffert, returned $3 and $2.20, while Smoky Cinder, one of two entries trained by Jenine Sahadi, was another 1½ lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show. Wearing blinkers, Bagshot stayed off the early pace, then took a short lead into the second turn and drew clear under the left-handed whipping of Antley. "It was a slow pace and I let him go ahead and run his race the whole way down the backside," Antley said. "When I got into him left-handed, he fired. (Trainer) Paco Gonzalez told me to ride him aggressively, and that's what I did." Despite all the losses, Bagshot was frequently on the board last year. The 6-year-old finished in the money in seven of nine races and earned $364,000. He lost the Santa Anita Handicap and last year's Cal Cup Classic, both by one length. "I thought today would be his day," owner John Toffan said. "His last few races, he's shown some speed. It's nice to win this race. It's great for us because we breed a lot in California." Bagshot has been on the sideline for most of the year since finishing third in an allowance race in February. He finished seventh in his comeback race on Oct. 3. Garrett Gomez rode three winners on the 10-race card, including teaming with trainer Juan Garcia for victories with Chichim ($20) in the Distaff and Native Desert ($5.80) in the Mile. Gomez also won the Sprint with Love That Red ($6) in front of a crowd of 31,047. Cover Gal remained undefeated with a 2½-length victory over Starring Me in the $125,000 Juvenile Fillies, making her 4-for-4 in her career. The 2-year-old covered 1 1-16 miles in 1:45 going two turns for the first time and paid $3, $2.60 and 2.60. At the start of the Juvenile Fillies, Fire Sale Queen lost jockey Martin Pedroza when she stumbled and nearly fell. She continued running well ahead of the field, but turning for home, Fire Sale Queen took a right turn and went over the rail. She was pinned between the rail and fence, but escaped serious injury.