Saturday’s inaugural California Crown, Thoroughbred racing’s newest $1 million prize, attracted seven runners, including 2023 Preakness and 2024 Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure. He’s joined by Arkansas Derby winner Muth in his first foray against older horses, as well as Senor Buscador, whose $12 million career bankroll puts him in the top-10 on the all-time North American list for money earners. Santa Anita Handicap 1-2 finishers Newgate and Subsanador also renew their acquaintances in the main event.
The 1-1/8 miles Grade 1 California Crown could be a major steppingstone toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic or Dirt Mile, taking the place on the Santa Anita stakes calendar formerly occupied by the Awesome Again Stakes. It’s one of 3 signature California Crown races on the card, immediately preceded by the 11-runner Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship for grass routers (Race 7) and the 12-runner Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes for turf sprinters (Race 8). The loaded card also includes the listed Unzip Me for turf sprint fillies and mares as well as the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile for top turf milers.
National Treasure owns the most natural speed in the California Crown and should be forward throughout under Flavien Prat. His victory in the Grade 1 Met Mile was brilliant before a misfire over a wet track in the Grade 1 Whitney upon his Saratoga return. He’s struggled throughout his career on wet tracks and should bounce back on fast going Saturday. Stablemate Muth may have the most speed among the rest, but don’t expect the Bob Baffert stablemates to clash throughout the trip. Juan Hernandez rides Muth, who has made just 1 start since April’s Arkansas Derby and missed this year’s Triple Crown series. Expect Senor Buscador to be compromised by the modest tempo expected and finish with run that moves him forward to the 1-1/4 miles Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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Balnikhov, winner of Pimlico’s Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes on the Preakness Day card, continues his pursuit of a $2.5 million bonus in the California Crown turf series if he can win Saturday’s John Henry and January’s Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream. His chief rivals in the 1-1/4 miles John Henry Turf Championship include last year’s race runner-up Dicey Mo Chara, as well as Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap and Grade 2 Whittingham winner Gold Phoenix.
The Eddie D will blaze 6-1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course and includes last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf sprint runner-up and recent Saratoga stakes winner Big Invasion. The New York-based dasher meets last year’s Eddie D narrow third-place finisher Noble Reflection as well as Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner Two Rivers Over.
The Race 10 City of Hope Mile features Johannes, unbeaten in 3 starts this year, including the American and Shoemaker Mile over the Santa Anita lawn. Maryland-based Trikari ships west to provide opposition after registering wins in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill, Grade 1 Belmont Derby at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs.
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