Coach Bob Baffert has discovered a whole new dimension to out of money on April 22 at Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. But it’s definitely not by design.
Defunded, who usually likes to set the speed, has had port issues in the past. This time Baffert was pleased to see Defunded standing at the gate “perfectly”. But timing is everything, and a split second before the portal opens, Defunded steps back, resulting in him jumping out of the gate and finishing last among the six runners.
Baffert and Karl Watson, who own Defunded with Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, can only watch the 1-5 favorite running across the field while shooting from long range midnight mammoth speed setting under normal circumstances, will be the role of Defunded.
Juan Hernandez has proven why he is Santa Anita’s top equestrian. Before the Californian 1 1/8 mile, he had only ridden the Defunded once, when they crossed most of the 1 1/4 mile Santa Anita Handicap on March 4, only to be caught in the deep. They finished Tuesday that day to quiet boy And Authority who finished third and first in Oaklawn Handicap (G2) 1 1/8 mile on the same day as the Californian.
“I was thinking about going to Oaklawn, but that race was too much speed,” Baffert said. “After that, I was going to skip this race, but Defunded came through very well the day before.”
Baffert, who previously won the 2012 California Prize with Games On Dude 2017 with collect and 2018 with Dr. Dorr , decided to run Defunded. What he discovered was that Defunded could come from as pro speed as he could set.
Still last after six stretches, Defunded concentrated and unleashed a wide move on the second turn that sent him slingshot across the field as if he’d come from behind his entire career. He took the lead for a long period of time before scoring a three-half lead with a score of 1:48.91 royal ship . Mammoth at midnight, the second $50,000 claim comes back, on the third.
Watson headed to the winner’s circle, still amazed at what he had witnessed.
“I think it’s pretty good after it’s over,” said Watson. “When he jumped out of the gate, it wasn’t good. I was hoping he would sit there, relax and run away. That’s all you could hope for. We didn’t know we had a Plan. B.”
Baffert and Hernandez note that Defunded never had a rank, a key to winning.
Hernandez said: “He relaxed very well and was very happy in the back. “The dirt doesn’t bother him at all, so that’s perfect.”
Baffert concedes that the best distance of 5-year-old gelding is probably 1 1/8 mile. In the past five distance runs, Defunded has now won the Californian, 2022 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) and 2022 Native Diver Stakes (G3) and finished second at the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and 2021 Los Alamitos Horse race (G3). But he also finished well at the 1 1/4 mile, with third place in the Santa Anita Handicap and second in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).
“He’s always been a bit stubborn,” Baffert said. “But he’s maturing and perfecting. He’s a tough 2-year-old.”
Defunded, a Kentucky half-blood of Called in –wind caper via touch gold , bred by Athens Woods LLC, started only once in 2nd place, finishing third. He currently has six wins, four seconds and two-thirds in 16 starts with a make of $1,348,100. He cost the owner $210,000 at the Keeneland annual sale in September 2019, where he was part of the Eaton Sales shipment.
Videotapes: Californian S. (G2)
