STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2024

• BAFFERT TALKS TRIO OF CALIFORNIA CROWN CONTENDERS • CITY OF HOPE: D’AMATO HAS 3 CHANCES TO UPSET JOHANNES • CALIFORNIA CROWN RACES WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ON CNBC, PEACOCK • FIRST POST SATURDAY IS 12:30 P.M FOR BLOCKBUSTER 10-RACE CARD

BAFFERT TALKS TRIO OF CALIFORNIA CROWN CONTENDERS

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.”

The California Crown is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

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. PT. 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); Indispensable, Hector Berrios (SCR).

CITY OF HOPE: D’AMATO HAS 3 CHANCES TO UPSET FAVORITE JOHANNES

Installed as a heavy 4-5 favorite in the morning line, Grade I winner Johannes figures to take some beating in Saturday’s GII, $200,000 City of Hope Mile presented by My Racehorse.

The chief rivals to Johannes include a trio from the Phil D’Amato barn: Conclude (8-1), Easter (8-1) and Almendares (10-1). D’Amato, a six-time leading trainer at Santa Anita, recently provided insight on his City of Hope triumvirate.

Conclude, a 4-year-old Collected colt, got his first stakes win against older horses last time out when scoring on the front-end under Hector Berrios in the GII Del Mar Mile Aug. 31. Prior to the Del Mar Mile, Conclude finished off the board in both the GI Shoemaker Mile and Wickerr Stakes, both at Santa Anita. Overall, he is 9: 5-1-0 with four stakes wins and $546,100 in earnings.

“He’s found his stride as a 4-year-old,” D’Amato said. “It took him a couple races against older horses to find his top form again. Hopefully he can repeat what he did at Del Mar last out.”

Easter, a multiple Grade II winner last year, this season is winless in three graded stakes tries. Most recently, the 6-year-old gelding checked in fifth behind winner Johannes, trained by Tim Yakteen, in the GII Eddie Read at Del Mar July 28.

“He’s a horse that needs pace to run at to be his best,” D’Amato said. “Hopefully he’ll get it Saturday.”

Easter wore blinkers for the first time in the Eddie Read. They will be removed for the City of Hope.

“We tried the blinkers to see if we could put him in the race a little more. I don’t know if it helped,” D’Amato said.

Almendares, a 4-year-old gelding, finished just a head back of Conclude in the Del Mar Mile in what was a career-best performance.

“We thought one or two more jumps and it could have been a whole different outcome,” D’Amato said.

The 4-year-old gelding, who is seeking a first stakes win, will have a new rider Saturday. With Antonio Fresu sticking with Easter, top jockey Flavien Prat takes over on Almendares.

“He’s doing great and he’s got Prat. Hopefully he continues to move forward,” D’Amato said.

The City of Hope Mile goes as the 10th and final race Saturday. Post time is approximately 5 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Du Jour, Juan Hernandez (5-1); Irideo, Tyler Baze (30-1); Johannes, Umberto Rispoli (4-5); Packs a Wahlop, Mike Smith (15-1); Easter, Antonio Fresu (10-1); Trikari, John Velazquez (8-1); Astronomer, Kazushi Kimura (20-1); Almendares, Flavien Prat (10-1); Conclude, Hector Berrios (8-1).

CALIFORNIA CROWN RACES WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ON CNBC, PEACOCK

Santa Anita will be in the national spotlight Saturday as all three California Crown races—the $750,000 California Crown John Henry, $750,000 California Crown Eddie D and $1 million California Crown itself—will be aired live on CNBC and streamed on Peacock.

The two-hour broadcast begins at 3 p.m. PT. The California Crown, which is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, will go at 4:40 p.m.

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Britney Eurton with analyst Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Baliey. Nick Luck (reporter) and Santa Anita’s Michelle Yu (handicapper) will also be part of the broadcast team.

California’s richest day of racing will feature VIP area trackside performances by Gryffin, Lil Yachty, Shaboozey, Frank Walker and Zack Bia. Luxury hospitality experiences will be curated by Delilah, Funke by Chef Evan Funke and Wally’s.

FINISH LINES: With first post Saturday at 12:30 p.m. for a 10-race, admission gates open at 10:30 a.m…Citizen Bull, the beaten favorite in the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 8, and Nooni, the beaten favorite in the GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 7, each worked five furlongs from the gate Friday for Bob Baffert. Citizen Bull went in 59.20 seconds while Nooni was timed in 59.00 seconds to earn the bullet…The popular $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 featuring a player-friendly 15 percent takeout returns Saturday. The wager, which combines races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, will be offered every Saturday and Sunday during Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet, which concludes Oct. 27…Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:20 a.m. PT.