Photo:

Eclipse Sportswire – edited composite

Bob Baffert has Grade 1 winners National Treasure, Newgrange
and 3-year-old Muth set to go in the first-ever Grade 1, $1 million California Crown on Saturday at Santa Anita.

On Friday morning at Santa Anita, the Hall of Fame trainer said,
“I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the three won.”

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

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 Whitney (G1) at
Saratoga on Aug. 3. 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,” Baffert said. “Horses
will do that sometimes.”

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 Saudi
Cup (G1), where he finished fourth behind winner Señor Buscador, who also is
entered in the California Crown.

“He’s done a lot of traveling this year,” Baffert said. “That
may have also had an effect.”

National Treasure’s two other cross-country trips this year
resulted in wins. He scored by a neck over Señor Buscador in the Pegasus World
Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and then won the Met Mile
(G1) at Saratoga in June.

Jockey Flavien Prat has been aboard National Treasure in all
four starts this year and retains the mount Saturday.

Newgate, who will have John Velázquez in the irons, is returning from a
six-month layoff. Winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March, he has been
off since finishing ninth in the Dubai World Cup (G1).

“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 qualifier for
the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Muth, winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) in March, will be
facing older horses for the first time, and he will have regular rider Juan
Hernández in the irons. The Good Magic colt exits a win in the one-mile Shared
Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on 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 (G1). 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.

“I really won’t say much,” Baffert said about pre-race
jockey instructions. “They all know these horses already. Those guys are
professionals. I don’t want to get in their way. 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 7:43 p.m. EDT. 

Post	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start / Next Start	Morn. Line
1		Newgate Into Mischief	6.98	Bob Baffert John R. Velazquez	9th, 2024 Dubai World Cup G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	6-1
Last Race Next Race		9th, 2024 Dubai World Cup G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
2		Subsanador Fortify	6.46	Richard E. Mandella Mike E. Smith	1st, 2024 Philip H. Iselin G3 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	5-1
Last Race Next Race		1st, 2024 Philip H. Iselin G3 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
3		National Treasure Quality Road	7.29	Bob Baffert Flavien Prat	6th, 2024 Whitney G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	8-5
Last Race Next Race		6th, 2024 Whitney G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
4		Katonah Klimt	6.07	Doug F. O’Neill Tiago J. Pereira	7th, 2024 Pacific Classic G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	15-1
Last Race Next Race		7th, 2024 Pacific Classic G1 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
5		Muth Good Magic	7.40	Bob Baffert Juan J. Hernandez	1st, 2024 Shared Belief Stakes LS 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	2-1
Last Race Next Race		1st, 2024 Shared Belief Stakes LS 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
6		Senor Buscador Mineshaft	7.53	Todd W. Fincher Joseph Talamo	4th, 2024 Pat O’Brien Stakes G2 2024 California Crown Stakes G1	6-1
Last Race Next Race		4th, 2024 Pat O’Brien Stakes G2 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
scr		Indispensable Constitution	4.12	John W. Sadler	2nd, 2024 Shared Belief Stakes LS 2024 California Crown Stakes G1
Last Race Next Race		2nd, 2024 Shared Belief Stakes LS 2024 Oklahoma Derby G3