Santa Anita: Baffert has 4 of 6 runners in American Pharoah

Bob Baffert trains four of the six entrants in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita.

The 1 1/16-mile race is a win-and-you're-in for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. 

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

Desert Gate, a colt by Omaha Beach trained by Baffert, is the most accomplished in the field. Desert Gate was a debut winner in June at Santa Anita going five furlongs, then romped by 8 3/4 lengths in the Best Pal (G3) going six furlongs at Del Mar. Most recently, Desert Gate came up one length short of highly regarded stablemate Brant in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) going seven furlongs on Sept. 7. Jockey Juan Hernandez has been aboard for all three starts and again has the call on Saturday.

Intrepido and Kristofferson, who exit promising maiden wins at Del Mar, are other principles.

Intrepido graduated by 3 1/4 lengths when stretched out to a mile in his second start on Aug. 23. A ridgling by Maximus Mischief, he is trained by Jeff Mullins. Hector Berrios was aboard for his maiden-breaker and again has the call.

Kristofferson from the Baffert barn was a debut winner going six furlongs on Aug. 31 at Del Mar. By Nyquist, Kristofferson dueled on the lead and then dug in gamely late to prevail by three-quarters of a length. He’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard.

If all six go to post, this will be the smallest American Pharaoh field since 2018, when there were only five starters. Baffert has won the race a record 13 times, including six of the last seven. During his current four-year streak, he has had 12 of the 30 starters.

The American Pharoah goes as the third race at approximately 5 p.m. EDT.