INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Early Pioneer's upset win over General Challenge in Sunday's $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup left the California older-horse division in turmoil, and the trainers involved now intend to focus more on races at Del Mar than an assault on the Eastern handicap division in the Aug. 6 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

	Early Pioneer, who at 24-1 was the second-longest shot to win the Gold Cup, has emerged as the leader of the California division.

Of the nine runners in the Gold Cup, only third-place finisher David, who is trained in New York, and Cat Thief, who has run on five tracks this year, are likely to travel to Saratoga and face Behrens, Golden Missile, and Lemon Drop Kid.

Most California trainers are content staying at home, and waiting for the Breeders' Cup Classic before trying those horses on a national stage.

It is easy to see why, since the Eastern horses are in excellent form. Golden Missile has won his last two starts in the Pimlico Special and Stephen Foster Handicap. Lemon Drop Kid won the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park over Behrens, who earlier this year finished second to Dubai Millennium in the Dubai World Cup.

Early Pioneer, who at 24-1 was the second-longest shot to win the Gold Cup, has emerged as the leader of the California division, having also won the Grade 2 San Bernardino Handicap over General Challenge in April and placing in two other graded stakes.

General Challenge has not been worse than second in his last three starts, but was plagued earlier in the spring by throat problems and clearly needed Sunday's race. In the past, he has run better races in California than other states.

Aside from those two, no other California-based horse has consistently won or placed in the division through this year, leaving an opportunity for a 3-year-old such as Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus when he tries older horses later this year.

"I think a lot of the talent is in the East this year," said trainer James Bond, who finished last in the Gold Cup with Pleasant Breeze, but also trains Behrens. "General Challenge ran a big race, but can he travel? That's the million dollar question."

Some California horses are jumping out of the division entirely. On Monday, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Blueprint, who finished sixth in the Gold Cup, will be pointed for the Del Mar Handicap on turf. Trainer Bobby Frankel said Chester House, who was seventh in the Gold Cup, is likely to reappear in the Eddie Read Handicap on July 30 on turf. Big Ten, who won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes but was eighth of nine in the Gold Cup, will try races at shorter distances, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Aside from the first two finishers, the only Gold Cup starter bound for the Pacific Classic is Out of Mind, who was fourth.

The Whitney Handicap, the final leg of the five-race "NTRA Champions on Fox" series, will not have the winners of the series's two California races. General Challenge, who won the Santa Anita Handicap in March, is being pointed for a defense of his title in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 26, where he will face Gold Cup winner Early Pioneer.

Consequently, the NTRA will not be paying out a seven-figure bonus after the Whitney Handicap since no horse will have won three of the five races in the series. Bonuses for the top point earner and a points-for-cash bonus paid to the first three finishers in the Whitney Handicap will be distributed.

Through Sunday, General Challenge and Golden Missile shared the lead with 22 points each.

The strength of the Eastern-based horses means the important Breeders' Cup Classic preps in New York - such as the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park and the Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park - will weigh heavily on the Breeders' Cup Classic more than California preps such as the Pacific Classic or Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Oak Tree.

Vladimir Cerin, who trains Early Pioneer, has the Breeders' Cup in his long-range plans, and wants to have a fresh horse in the fall. He said Monday that Early Pioneer will not start until the Pacific Classic, where he hopes his horse will earn national recognition.

"I'm not sure he doesn't deserve it now," Cerin said. "It wasn't the most memorable Gold Cup for the public, but it was to me."