Nominations were announced over the weekend for the inaugural edition of the California Crown, along with six supporting stakes races on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29 at Santa Anita Park.
Top barns from across the country and around the world are represented in the nominations, with top horses like National Treasure, Muth, Adare Manor, Sweet Azteca, Senor Buscador, Far Bridge and Johannes considering a run at Santa Anita that weekend. Entries will be taken on Monday, September 23.
Here’s a look at the highlights from the nominations:
Saturday, September 28
$1 Million California Crown (Gr I)
Total Nominations: 23 (List)
Bob Baffert leads the way with five nominations, headlined by Grade 1 winners National Treasure (’24 Met Mile, ’23 Preakness), Muth {pictured} (’24 Arkansas Derby, ’23 American Pharoah) and Newgate (’24 Big Cap). Senor Buscador, winner of the ’24 Saudi Cup, is on the list for conditioner Todd Fincher, as are the 1-2-3-4 finishers from last month’s Pacific Classic – Mixto, Full Serrano, Reincarnate and Dr. Venkman. A potential shipper is Saffie Joseph’s Skippylongstocking on the heels of a victory in the G2 Charles Town Classic, while Subsanador, fresh off a win in Monmouth’s G3 Iselin, represents Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. Any way you slice it, this has all the makings of an exceptional field and a very strong race.
$750K California Crown John Henry Turf Championship, presented by 1/ST BET (Gr II)
Total Nominations: 25 (List)
Off his win in Pimlico’s G3 Dinner Party in May, Balnikhov is eligible for a $2.5 million bonus if he can add victories in both the John Henry and Pegasus World Cup Turf to his resume. Most recently 3rd in the G2 Del Mar Handicap, he joins four others from that race – Gold Phoenix (1st), Dicey Mo Chara (2nd), Rockemperor (4th) and Master Piece (5th) – nominated here. A number of East Coast horses are giving this race a long look, led by Christophe Clement’s Far Bridge, most recently the upset winner of the G1 Sword Dancer, and Graham Motion’s Trikari, a three-year-old with three graded victories on the season. Clement has also nominated millionaire Tawny Port.
$750K California Crown Eddie D. Stakes (Gr II)
Total Nominations: 35 (List)
California turf sprint stakes traditionally draw strong fields and with 35 horses nominated, the California Crown Eddie D. should attract a strong field. Europe’s Mill Stream won the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket in England and has been nominated. What a get that would be. Noble Reflection and Bran, 2nd and 3rd in the ’23 Eddie D, are back for another look. Del Mar’s G3 Green Flash produced six nominations, topped by winner Motorious and runner-up Johnny Podres. Christophe Clement has nominated millionaire Big Invasion along with Senbei, indicating he’s strongly considering a trip west for California Crown. Ag Bullet, a runaway winner at Kentucky Downs, would be a filly taking on the boys for the first time if she were to run.
$200K City of Hope Mile (Gr II)
Total Nominations: 35 (List)
Many of the horses nominated earlier for either the G2 John Henry or G2 Eddie D. are cross nominated in the G2 City of Hope Mile, a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. California’s top miler, Johannes, is nominated for Tim Yakteen. He is a 5-time winner on this course and has swept through the G3 American, G1 Shoemaker and G2 Eddie Read so far this season. The G2 Del Mar Mile provides a logical stepping stone to this race, with the 1-2-3-4-6-8 finishers nominated back. The key names to know there are Conclude, Almendares, Astronomer and Du Jour, who were separated by just 3/4-length at the finish. Shippers among the nominees include Big Everest (Christophe Clement), Cash Equity (Saffie Joseph), Degree of Risk (Nolan Ramsey), Spy Novel (Ramsey), Strong Quality (Mark Casse) and Trikari (Graham Motion).
$100K Unzip Me Stakes
Total Nominations: 28 (List)
Twenty-eight three-year-old fillies are giving the Unzip Me a look. The nominations represent all parts of the nation, with Dreamfyre (O.J. Jauregui), Moment’s Pleasure (Craig Lewis) and One Magic Philly (Phil D’Amato) repping the home state. The field could also feature runners last seen in Florida (Etrurian), Ontario (Golden Canary), New York (In Our Time, Wrigleyville and Toupie), New Jersey (El Terreno) and Kentucky (Visually and Niki Nine Doors).
Sunday, September 29
$200K Zenyatta Stakes (Gr II)
Total Nominations: 15 (List)
There is serious horsepower among the nominations for this one. Bob Baffert’s Adare Manor won this race last year by more than five lengths and is 3-for-4 in ’24 with victories including the G1 Clement Hrisch and G1 Apple Blossom. The only horse to beat her this year, Sweet Azteca, is also nominated for trainer Mike McCarthy. She got the best of Adare Manor in the G1 Beholder Mile in March and is two-for-two since. Baffert also has Hope Road, Nothing Like You and Show Card nominated, an indication he’ll make his decision later. Much will depend on the status of Adare Manor, forced to withdraw from the Pacific Classic due to minor injury.
$200K Santa Anita Sprint Championship (Gr II)
Total Nominations: 15 (List)
Bob Baffert’s Speed Boat Beach was beaten just a head in this race last year and is nominated here in what would be his first start since winning the ’23 Malibu (G1) on December 26. Other familiar faces nominated for this one include ’24 San Diego Handicap (G2) victor Dr. Venkman, ’24 Palos Verdes (G3) winner Big City Lights, ’24 Triple Bend (G2) winner Happy Jack, ’23 Joe Hernandez (G3) winner Forbidden Kingdom and ’23 Maryland Sprint (G3) winner Straight No Chaser for MyRacehorse. Six-year-old Comedy Town has won three in a row at Gulfstream Park after being claimed for $25K in March.
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