Santa Anita Picks | California Crown Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Classic]

Aaron previews the 2024 California Crown Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park & gives his win pick from this “Win & You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Trainer Bob Baffert seemingly holds all the cards in Grade 1 winners National Treasure, Newgate, & Muth. Is there any chance of another barn cashing big?

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The press release:

The first-ever California Crown stakes at Santa Anita, a 1 1/8-mile Grade I worth $1 million in prize money, attracted a field of seven led by Saudi Cup victor Senor Buscador and a trio of Grade I winners for Bob Baffert—National Treasure, Muth and Newgate. The California Crown is a “Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In” for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 2.

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Senor Buscador, trained by Todd Fincher, earned the biggest win of his career in February when taking the rich Saudi Cup in Riyadh, which was also 1 1/8 miles. Most recently, Senor Buscador returned from a nearly five-month layoff in the GII Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs at Del Mar and checked in fourth.

A 6-year-old horse by Mineshaft, Senor Buscador enters with a record of 20: 7-2-3 and $12.7 million in earnings, which easily tops the field. He races as a homebred for Peacock Family Racing Stable. Jockey Joe Talamo, who rode Senor Buscador for the first time in the Pat O’Brien, will be back in the irons.

National Treasure enters the California Crown as a leading contender for year-end championship honors in the older dirt male division. The 4-year-old Quality Road colt this season owns wins in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January and GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga in June. Most recently, National Treasure shipped back to Saratoga from his Santa Anita base and finished sixth as the favorite in the GI Whitney when catching a muddy track Aug. 3.

National Treasure has a record of 14: 4-2-2 with $5,378,000 in earnings for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who has been aboard for his five previous starts.

Muth won the GI Arkansas Derby in March and subsequently was sidelined for the next six months. The 3-year-old Good Magic colt resurfaced Sept. 1 at Del Mar and promptly scored in the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes as the 1-5 favorite. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Muth is 7: 5-2-0 with $1,579,100 in earnings. Jockey Juan Hernandez has been aboard for all seven previous starts and again has the call on Saturday.

Newgate reached a career high earlier this year when earning his one and only Grade I in the Santa Anita Handicap going 1 ¼ miles on March 3. He then shipped to the Middle East for a crack at the GI Dubai World Cup where he faded to ninth after being up close to the early pace.

A 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, Newgate is 10: 3-4-0 with $535,775 in earnings for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. He will be reunited with Hall of Famer jockey John Velazquez, who previously rode Newgate for his first four career starts in 2022.

The other major contender in the field is Subsanador for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. Imported from Argentina late last year, Subsanador has made four starts in the U.S. with the last two being for Mandella. Subsanador was sold privately to Wathnan Racing and transferred to Mandella prior to the GII Hollywood Gold Cup May 7 going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita. He finished fourth after pressing the early pace.

A 5-year-old horse by Fortify, Subsanador next shipped cross-country to Monmouth Park where he was an impressive winner of the GIII Philip H. Iselin going 1 1/16 miles Aug. 17. Subsanador sports an overall record of 16: 8-2-1 with $403,214. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rode Subsanador for the first time in the Iselin, will be back aboard Saturday.

THE GI CALIFORNIA CROWN AT SANTA ANITA PARK, WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER:

Race 9 of 10 | Approximate post time 4:40 p.m.

1. Newgate – John Velazquez – 124
2. Subsanador – Mike Smith – 124
3. National Treasure – Flavien Prat – 126
4. Katonah – Tiago Pereira – 122
5. Muth – Juan Hernandez – 122
6. Senor Buscador – Joseph Talamo – 124
7. Indispensable – Hector Berrios – 118