Subsanador prevailed in a three-way photo over the Bob Baffert duo of National Treasure and Newgate in a thrilling California Crown (G1) at Santa Anita, earning a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). In the other Breeders’ Cup Challenge race on Saturday’s card, the City of Hope Mile (G2), the streaking Johannes secured his free pass to the Mile (G1).
California Crown (G1)
The 1 1/8-mile fixture formerly known as the Awesome Again (and originally the Goodwood) was rebranded as the $1 million California Crown on an enhanced day of racing and entertainment at Santa Anita.
Its first running in this context became an instant classic, serving up a titanic stretch tussle. As longtime leader National Treasure was grimly trying to fend off the rallying Subsanador from the Richard Mandella barn, his Baffert stablemate Newgate ranged up to join the fray wider out.
From the perspective of Subsanador, it was Baffert to the right of him, Baffert to the left of him. But the Argentine champion never flinched in the heat of battle as he continued his charge between them.
Subsanador thrust his head in front of National Treasure, and Newgate was another nose away in third, in a race brimming with Breeders’ Cup implications. Not all were encouraging implications either; Baffert’s 3-2 favorite, Muth, backpedaled to last.
National Treasure reiterated why his previously announced target, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), is the right race for him rather than the 1 1/4-mile Classic. The 8-5 second choice had to flash an opening quarter in :22.89 to gain control, but he then dictated terms as he pleased. After posting fractions of :47.19, 1:11.26, and 1:36.17, he couldn’t quite eke out the ninth furlong in the California Crown.
Subsanador and Newgate, on the other hand, strengthened their credentials for the Classic. The two already established their 1 1/4-mile proficiency in the March 3 Santa Anita H. (G1), where Newgate just got up to inflict heartbreak on frontrunning Subsanador.
Yet both needed to demonstrate something in their California Crown rematch. Newgate hadn’t raced since his disappointing ninth in the March 30 Dubai World Cup (G1), making his Saturday prep crucial to advance his Classic candidacy.
Subsanador had to clarify whether the Classic or Dirt Mile should be his aim. He’d never raced beyond a metric mile in Argentina, and his stateside record was clouded at the Classic distance.
Privately acquired by Wathnan Racing after the Big ‘Cap and switched to Mandella, Subsanador faded to fourth in the May 27 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2). He ended up shipping to Monmouth Park for a retrieval mission in the Aug. 17 Philip H. Iselin (G3), and the way he inhaled them going 1 1/16 miles implied that maybe reverting in trip was advisable.
In the California Crown, Subsanador once again stalked and pounced effectively, stating his case to use his Classic ticket. He’s now 2-for-2 with jockey Mike Smith, who clearly has found the key to him.
A ground-saving fourth early, Subsanador got his opening on the far turn, when the stalking Katonah and Muth dropped back. The 6.10-1 chance smoothly angled to the outside and hunted down National Treasure. The ever-gaining presence of Newgate might also have fired Subsanador’s competitive spirit.
Subsanador covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.68 and paid $14.20.
“I knew my horse could handle the pocket,” Smith said. “I knew National Treasure would be the speed and Muth was outside, so I knew to lay back.
“Once we got by … he thought the race was over and I had to gather myself and get him going again. He has a tendency to think the race is over.
“These horses from Argentina are younger horses (compared to the Northern Hemisphere-breds). I’ve got to give Richard Mandella all the credit. He’s got this horse so confident, he thinks he owns the place (Santa Anita).”
Mandella wasn’t as confident about how Subsanador would handle being in close quarters.
“We’ve never been in a tight situation like that, and at Monmouth, he never had a straw in his path. Everything went well,” Mandella observed.
“This was tight and he was cooped up a little bit, and I didn’t know how he’d react. I was very proud that he kept trying.”
Baffert was pleased with the near-miss efforts of National Treasure and Newgate.
“We just got beat. Muth didn’t bring his A game. He just didn’t fire today. The other two horses ran their hearts out. We just got beat.”
The top three pulled seven lengths clear of Katonah. Another eight lengths back came Senor Buscador, trailed by Muth. Indispensable was scratched in favor of Sunday’s Oklahoma Derby (G3).
Subsanador’s fourth Grade/Group 1 laurel pushed his earnings into seven-figure territory while improving his resume to 17-9-2-1, $1,003,124.
By the Distorted Humor stallion Fortify, the chestnut was honored as Argentina’s champion two-year-old colt by virtue of wins in the 2022 Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) and Gran Premio Montevideo (G1). He added the Gran Premio de las Americas (G1) along with a pair of lesser Group races in 2023.
Subsanador resurfaced at Santa Anita late last year with John Sadler. Although he was an underwhelming fourth as the favorite in his Dec. 26 premiere in the San Antonio (G2), he moved forward mightily in the Big ‘Cap. The pattern was repeated in his starts for Mandella, needing his first outing for the barn before taking off next time, and there could be more to come.
Out of the Hurricane Cat mare Save the Date, Subsanador traces to Glamour, one of the vectors of influence for her ancestress *La Troienne.
City of Hope Mile (G2)
CUYATHY’s homebred Johannes remained perfect in 2024 with another straightforward display in the $201,500 City of Hope Mile.
There was more suspense for the 4-5 favorite after the race, when the stewards posted the inquiry sign. They wanted to review the brushing between Johannes and third-placer Conclude. Sensibly, their unanimous decision was to let the result stand.
Indeed, Johannes was hardly the culprit in a mutual barging match. Conclude played catch-me-if-you-can through splits of :23.04, :46.30, and 1:09.61 on the firm turf, and he drifted out in upper stretch as Johannes engaged.
Up to that point, Johannes had once again worked out the ideal trip with Umberto Rispoli. The Tim Yakteen trainee sat in fourth and started unleashing his turn of foot on the far turn. His momentum off the turn made him lean in as Conclude came out, and each gave as good as he got.
The contact didn’t bother Johannes, who quickened 1 1/4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:32.45. His overall resume now reads 11-7-0-1, $693,859, but he’s 7-for-8 on turf.
A blanket finish for the minors ensued. Almendares nipped Conclude for second. Trikari, a neck away in fourth, held the same margin over the slow-starting but fast-finishing Easter. Du Jour thought about contending on the inside, only to flatten out in sixth. Astronomer and Packs a Wahlop concluded the order of finish after the scratch of Irideo.
Rispoli explained his view of the stretch incident.
“It was horse racing. Hector (Berrios on Conclude) came off the rail and tried to engage his horse left-handed, and he bumped my horse. He is the kind of horse that tends to lean a little bit. We just brushed each other; nothing too big. I would have been surprised to see any change.”
Johannes confirmed his status as the local kingpin going into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, having swept the April 4 American (G3), May 27 Shoemaker Mile (G1), July 28 Eddie Read (G2), and now the City of Hope Mile. The Nyquist colt also landed last year’s Baffle S. and Pasadena S. His only loss on turf came when fifth in the 2023 American Turf (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day, for which Rispoli takes the blame.
“After a bad ride at Churchill last year, the owner and I stuck together. It means a lot to me. He’s a special horse, so I have to say well done to the whole team. They do a really good job.”
Owner/breeders Joe and Debby McCloskey’s nom de course, CUYATHY, is an acronym for “count upon your angels to help you.” That’s the name of their first mare, by Congrats, who became the dam of Johannes.
