Baffert talks trio of California Crown contenders
At 0h02, on September 28, 2024 • By Santa Anita Park
Bob Baffert has three Grade I winners—National Treasure, Newgrange and 3-year-old Muth—set to go in the first-ever GI, $1 million California Crown presented by SirDavis American Whisky Saturday at Santa Anita. On Friday morning at Santa Anita, the Hall of Fame trainer noted, “I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the three won.”
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 GI Whitney at Saratoga Sept. 28. 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. Horses will do that sometimes,” Baffert said.
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 GI Saudi Cup, where he finished fourth behind winner Senor Buscador, who also is entered in the California Crown.
“He’s done a lot of traveling this year. That may have also had an effect,” Baffert said.
National Treasure’s two other cross-country trips this year resulted in wins. He scored by a neck over Senor Buscador in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in January, then won the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga in June.
Jockey Flavien Prat has been aboard National Treasure in all four starts this year and retains the mount on Saturday. Newgate, who will have John Velazquez in the irons, is returning from a six-month layoff. Winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap in March, he has been off since finishing ninth in the GI Dubai World Cup.
“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.”
Muth, winner of the GI Arkansas Derby in March, will be facing older horses for the first time with regular rider Juan Hernandez in the irons. The Good Magic colt exits a win in the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-old at Del Mar 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. 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. Baffert said “I really won’t say much” when it comes to pre-race jockey instructions.
“They all know these horses already. Those guys are professionals. I don’t want to get in their way,” he said. “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 4:40 p.m. The field in post position order: Newgate, John Velazquez (6-1); Subsanador, Mike Smith (5-1); National Treasure, Flavien Prat (8-5); Katonah, Tiago Pereira (15-1); Muth, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Senor Buscador, Joe Talamo (6-1).
