Yankee Bravo goes for three straight in Cal Derby

YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman) will face 11 rivals while attempting to move his record to a perfect three-for-three in Sunday's $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

The Paddy Gallagher-trained sophomore, who has raced exclusively on turf so far, will try the Tapeta main track for the first time in the California Derby. He made his racing debut in England last September, taking a five-furlong maiden special weight at Redcar by six lengths. He showed up on the Santa Anita worktab in early November and made his U.S. debut in the grassy Eddie Logan S. on December 29 at Santa Anita. Yankee Bravo was a half-length winner of his stakes bow that day, and the dark bay colt will get Alex Solis back in the saddle at Golden Gate.

CAPTURE THE CALL (Elusive Quality) is already familiar with Golden Gate's synthetic track, making his career bow a half-length second over the Tapeta on December 16. The Terry Knight charge showed up about three weeks later to break through with a first victory while stretching out to a mile. Russell Baze was on board for both of those starts and has piloting duties here.

BERT'S LAW (Bertrando) and MANY RIVERS (Storm Cat), the respective second- and third-place finishers behind unbeaten Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect El Gato Malo (El Corredor) in the December 15 Gold Rush S. at Golden Gate, will contest the California Derby as well as Gold Rush fourth-placer CAFE TORTONI (Katahaula County), who exits an allowance score for conditioner Jim Penney on January 4.

Other contenders in the California Derby include ROBSCARVIC (Ire) (Statue of Liberty), who was a close fifth in both the Pinjara S. and Generous S. (G3) in his past two while racing on the green; last-out allowance victor OVERLAND (Harlan's Holiday); and TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park), who was outclassed in the CashCall Futurity (G1) last out but could rebound here.

Cafe Tortoni will lead the post parade of this 1 1/16-mile event with Luis Contreras in the saddle. Next in line will be Robscarvic, Victor Espinoza; VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day), Joseph Talamo; MEDJOOL (Monarchos), Michael Baze; Many Rivers, Frank Alvarado; Overland, Chad Phillip Schvaneveldt; Capture the Call; Tres Borrachos, Martin Garcia; Bert's Law, Kyle Kaenel; SPINNING SOUND (Ire) (Spinning World), Francisco Duran; Yankee Bravo; and MOONLIT MASTER (Mizzen Mast), Mario Gutierrez.

All runners will carry 121 pounds.