California Crown: Baffert does not single out 1 of his 3 starters
Bob Baffert has Grade 1 winners National Treasure, Newgate and 3-year-old Muth set to go in the first-ever Grade 1, $1 million California Crown on Saturday at Santa Anita.
On Friday morning at Santa Anita, the Hall of Fame trainer said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the three won.”
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National Treasure, a leading contender for year-end championship honors in the older male-dirt division, is looking to rebound after a disappointing effort as the 4-5 favorite in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 3. Contested on a muddy track, National Treasure tracked the early leaders before weakening to a sixth-place finish.
“He just didn’t bring his A game,” Baffert said. “Horses will do that sometimes.”
The Whitney was National Treasure’s third cross-country trip of the year. He also made a journey to the Middle East in February to try the Saudi Cup (G1), where he finished fourth behind winner Señor Buscador, who also is entered in the California Crown.
“He’s done a lot of traveling this year,” Baffert said. “That may have also had an effect.”
National Treasure’s two other cross-country trips this year resulted in wins. He scored by a neck over Señor Buscador in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and then won the Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga in June.
Jockey Flavien Prat has been aboard National Treasure in all four starts this year and retains the mount Saturday.
Newgate, who will have John Velázquez in the irons, is returning from a six-month layoff. Winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March, he has been off since finishing ninth in the Dubai World Cup (G1).
“There wasn’t really a race for him timing-wise, and I didn’t want to ship out,” Baffert said of the extended layoff. “He’s a really nice horse and doing well, but he may need a race. It should set him up for the Breeders’ Cup.”
The California Crown is a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Muth, winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) in March, will be facing older horses for the first time, and he will have regular rider Juan Hernández in the irons. The Good Magic colt exits a win in the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on Sept. 1.
“The (Shared Belief) was a hard race,” Baffert said. “I was hoping to get an easy race and double back in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). But the goal is to get to the Breeders’ Cup. This should be a good next step.”
With a field of six set to go, the California Crown figures to be a tactically run race.
“I really won’t say much,” Baffert said about pre-race jockey instructions. “They all know these horses already. Those guys are professionals. I don’t want to get in their way. I think they’ll just play the break and go from there.”
The California Crown goes as a ninth race on a 10-race card Saturday. Post time is set for 7:43 p.m. EDT.