Country Grammer scratched at Santa Anita, to await G2 Californian

Country Grammer, unraced since finishing fifth in last year's Travers (G1), was scratched by his new connections from a Saturday allowance race at Santa Anita Park and will await the $200,000 Californian Stakes (G2) on April 17 for his return. 

Previously owned by the late Paul Pompa Jr. and trained by Chad Brown, Country Grammer was part of the Pompa dispersal at this year's Keeneland January sale, where he fetched $110,000 from WinStar Farm. The 4-year-old son of Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist was subsequently sent to trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Park. He has been working since late February and most recently turned in a five-furlong gate drill completed in 1:00.0 on Sunday. 

Baffert confirmed via text Friday afternoon that Country Grammer was scratched from Saturday's eighth race in favor of the Californian.

Out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, Country Grammer won last year's Peter Pan (G3) at Saratoga en route to compiling an overall record of 6: 2-0-1 with earnings of $157,320 for Pompa and Brown.