After saving ground throughout, Mr Fisk and jockey Kazushi Kimura found a small opening coming off the far turn and forged their way to the front on their way to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $201,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) May 27 at Santa Anita Park.
The victory is the fourth in the past five starts for Mr Fisk, who opened his season with a 2 1/4-length win in the Californian Stakes (G3) April 20 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old son of Arrogate is campaigned by his breeder, Sunny Brook Stables.
Mr Fisk was pulled up after the race and he didn’t enter the winner’s circle as he was vanned off. Trainer Bob Baffert told TVG that there was no obvious injury. Jockey Kimura told Santa Anita publicity that the horse just appeared to be tired. Santa Anita publicity reported the horse was resting in his stall after the race.
Baffert nailed down the top two spots in the race as Mr Fisk edged past grade 1-placed stablemate Reincarnate in the stretch, with that one holding second. They were followed home by Judge Miller , who finished second in the Californian.
With the victory, Baffert has 350 stakes wins at Santa Anita Park, the most of any trainer at the Arcadia, Calif., track.
“My horses ran great, both of them, one and two like that,” Baffert said. “I knew they weren’t going very fast, and he was in a good spot. Reincarnate when he gets a lead, he’s tough. He showed up. I’m proud of them both. It’s too bad we can’t celebrate in the winner’s circle, but the horse looks like he is going to be fine. That’s the good news.”
Reincarnate seized the lead from Subsanador through a quarter-mile in :23.58. He opened a clear advantage through a half-mile in :47.25 and still held a one-length advantage through a mile in :1:36.88. But Mr Fisk, who tracked in fourth most of the way, tipped out in the stretch and edged away late. The favorite paid $7 to win.
Bob Baffert, right, celebrates his 10th victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup May 27 in the Santa Anita winner’s circle with the connections of Mr Fisk
With his fifth win in 11 starts, Mr Fisk’s earnings surged to $369,700.
The victory is the second straight Hollywood Gold Cup win for Baffert and fourth in the past five years. He won the race last year with Defunded , in 2021 with Country Grammer , and in 2020 with Improbable . Baffert has won the Hollywood Gold Cup 10 times.
Bred in Kentucky, Mr Fisk is the first starter out of Irish-bred mare Plein Air, by Manduro. Plein Air won listed stakes in the United States and Italy.
The victory adds to a memorable season for the late Juddmonte sire Arrogate, who also boasts Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Seize the Grey , grade 2 winner Tiny Temper , and grade 3 winner Linda’s Gift .
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