Hollywood Gold Cup: Baffert enters 2 in Memorial Day feature

Mr Fisk, sharp winner of the Grade 3 Californian last month at Santa Anita, and Reincarnate will try and provide trainer Bob Baffert with a record-extending 10th victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles Monday at Santa Anita.

The Baffert duo is part of an eight-horse field signed up for the 86th Hollywood Gold Cup. Also looming in the lineup is Subsanador, who was beaten just a head in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1) when last seen March 3.

Baffert won last year’s Hollywood Gold Cup with Defunded. The victory pushed him past the legendary Charlie Whittingham for most Gold Cup wins of all time.

In the April 20 Californian going 1 1/8 miles, Mr Fisk scored by 2 1/4 lengths over odds-on favorite Judge Miller, who also returns in the Hollywood Gold Cup. It was the second graded-stakes victory for Mr Fisk. Last year, the 4-year-old Arrogate colt won the Native Diver (G3) going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar.

Kazushi Kimura rode Mr Fisk for the first time in the Californian. While Kimura is now based at Woodbine, he is returning to Santa Anita to ride Mr Fisk. A homebred for Sunny Brook Stables, Mr Fisk is 10: 4-2-0 with $249,700 in earnings.

Reincarnate was third in the Big Cap behind winning stablemate Newgate and runner-up Subsanador. Following that effort, the 4-year-old Good Magic colt went to Oaklawn Park and finished fourth in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Jockey Juan Hernandez, who rode Reincarnate in both the Big Cap and Oaklawn Handicap, will again be in the irons. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables et al, Reincarnate is 13: 3-3-3 with $547,900 in earnings.

Subsanador comes into the Gold Cup with new connections. Following his near miss in the Big Cap, which was Subsanador’s second U.S. start after being imported from Argentina, he was sold privately to Wathan Racing and transferred to trainer Richard Mandella.

In his U.S. unveiling prior to the Big Cap, Subsanador finished fourth as the favorite in the San Antonio (G2) going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. A 5-year-old son of Fortify, Subsanator won three Group 1 races in his native Argentina. He has an overall record of 14: 7-2-1 with $241,124 in earnings.

Judge Miller was making his stakes debut in the Californian for trainer Mark Glatt. The 4-year-old Curlin colt set the pace under Mike Smith before being overhauled in the stretch by Mr Fisk.

Frankie Dettori takes over aboard Judge Miller. He previously rode the chestnut in a one-mile allowance win Feb. 24 at Santa Anita.