The $1 million California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday has attracted a lineup of seven horses led by Grade I winners National Treasure, Muth, Newgate and Senor Buscador.
The first three are trained by Bob Baffert, an eight-time winner of the 1⅛-mile race for 3-year-olds and up when it was called the Goodwood or the Awesome Again.
Refashioned this year with a new name and bigger purse, the Grade I California Crown will be the ninth race of a 10-race program Saturday. The 12:30 p.m. card will include the $750,000, Grade II John Henry Turf Championship, $750,000, Grade II Eddie D. Stakes and $200,000, Grade II City of Hope Mile. All four graded stakes have implications for races on the second day of the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
Here’s the California Crown field, drawn Monday, from the rail out: Newgate, John Velazquez riding; Subsanador, Mike Smith; National Treasure, Flavien Prat; Katonah, Tiago Pereira; Muth, Juan Hernandez; Senor Buscador, Joe Talamo, and Indispensable, Hector Berrios.
Santa Anita’s one-month fall meet opens Friday.
Photo: Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire Jockey Mychel Sanchez will serve a seven-day suspension and pay an additional $1,750 in fines
Photo: Gulfstream Park / Lauren King Sovereignty, dramatic late-running winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, is being pointed
Photo: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo Cavalieri and Alpha Bella, who finished one-two in the Grade 3 La Cañada in January at Santa Anita,
Photo: Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire The stars will shine Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, and not just in the Grade 3 Tampa Ba