The Grade 1, $1 million California Crown Stakes Introduced by SirDavis American Whisky, previously the Superior Once more Stakes, is a “Win and You’re In” prep for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Seven horses had been entered, with Senor Buscador the highest horse among the many group in profession earnings at greater than $12.7 million, a lot of it earned when victorious within the $20 million Saudi Cup in February.
Nationwide Treasure has banked greater than $5.3 million, some when fourth behind Senor Buscador within the Saudi Cup and fairly a bit when profitable the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Introduced by Baccarat in January of this 12 months. Muth has received three races in a row, together with the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby this previous spring and, most lately, the Shared Perception Stakes. Newgate received the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap Introduced by Yaamava’ Resort & On line casino in March and returns from practically six months off following a ninth-place effort within the Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline. Subsanador missed by a head within the Santa Anita Handicap and most lately received the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes. Indispensable completed second within the Shared Perception behind Muth and can attempt to enhance within the California Crown. Katonah received the Pleasanton Mile Stakes in 2023 and was second within the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July earlier than a seventh-of-eight end within the Grade 1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Basic Stakes in his most up-to-date race.
Principal win contenders:
Subsanador received seven of 12 races in his native Argentina in 2022 and 2023, together with his solely strive on the 1 1/8-mile distance of the California Crown. In his U.S. debut final December, Subsanador was favored within the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes off that sturdy physique of labor in South America however solely managed a fourth-place end. Rested for 2 months, he returned within the Santa Anita Handicap in March and, at odds of twenty-two.30-1, practically posted the upset, developing a head quick to Newgate, who had run 5 weeks earlier. Following that race, Subsanador moved to the barn of Corridor of Fame coach Richard Mandella, who has received this race (beneath completely different names) 4 occasions. Subsanador ran poorly when fourth in Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes in Might in his first begin for Mandella, however he was a completely new horse 2 ½ months later within the Philip H. Iselin Stakes on Aug. 17. In that race, Subsanador was relaxed in fourth, about 3 ½ lengths off the pacesetters by means of the opening half-mile, then with only a slight cue from Corridor of Fame jockey Mike Smith, the horse whooshed by three horses to be in entrance earlier than being “ridden out” to victory. That effort earned Subsanador a field-high 124 Equibase Pace Determine, which is by far one of the best profitable determine of any horse on this 12 months’s California Crown subject. Contemplating this will probably be his second begin following 2 ½ months off, Smith rides him again, and he put in a really sturdy seven-furlong exercise coming into the race, Subsanador seems to be the one to beat on this race.
Muth has by no means completed farther again than second in seven races. He received 5 of these, together with three of 4 begins round two turns. Muth has the identical 1-for-1 file at this 1 1/8-mile journey as Subsanador, having received the Arkansas Derby this previous March, incomes a career-best 115 Equibase Pace Determine within the course of. Rested for 5 months following that win and most certainly with this race in thoughts, Muth received the Shared Perception Stakes at a mile on Sept. 1. Though the determine earned was only a 108, we will anticipate a giant enchancment on this colt’s second begin off the prolonged layoff and that makes him a robust contender on this subject.
Senor Buscador has received one of many 5 occasions he’s run this distance, however that win was large because it got here within the Saudi Cup Stakes in February, the place he earned the majority of the $20 million purse. Final 12 months, Senor Buscador received the San Diego Handicap in July with a 110 velocity determine then earned an identical 111 determine when third on this race (when named the Superior Once more Stakes). He started his 2024 marketing campaign with a fair higher effort when closing from eleventh of 12 to overlook by a neck to Nationwide Treasure within the Pegasus World Cup (incomes a 113 determine), then received the Saudi Cup one month later. Returning off a five-month layoff on Aug. 24 within the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes, Senor Buscador rallied from final of eight to be fourth on the finish, however he was by no means a sprinter and that was clearly a prep for an extended race like this one. Definitely, if the early tempo is contested and sooner than common, Senor Buscador could be seen bounding down the middle of the observe to cross the end line in time.
Coach Bob Baffert, who has received this race eight occasions, saddles Muth but in addition circumstances Nationwide Treasure and Newgate, each of whom I believe are a minimize beneath the highest three contenders. Nationwide Treasure received the Pegasus World Cup in January at this distance with a 111 velocity determine, and he earned a 114 Equibase Pace Determine when second by a nostril within the Massive Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile final fall. Since then, Nationwide Treasure earned a 110 determine profitable the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (Met Mile) in June, then ran the worst he’s run in a very long time when sixth because the odds-on favourite within the Whitney Stakes final month on the distance of the California Crown. At this stage and distance, I really feel Nationwide Treasure might have his work minimize out for him. Equally, Newgate earned a 111 Equibase Pace Determine profitable the Santa Anita Handicap in March however aside from that, his greatest effort in a two-turn race earned a 105 determine. He beat Subsanador within the Santa Anita Handicap, however Subsanador has improved markedly since then and Newgate returns from practically six months off, which is a giant concern at this stage and distance.
The remainder of the sphere (with greatest Equibase Pace Determine this 12 months): Indispensable (105) and Katonah (107).
Win contenders in chance order:
