STRIKING GOLD
Defunded gives trainer Baffert his record ninth win in historic race at Santa Anita
One of Defunded's owners, Michael Pegram, had perhaps the line of the day Monday after the 5-year-old gelded son of Dialed In went gate to wire under Juan Hernandez to win the $400,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
The victory made trainer Bob Baffert king of the Gold Cup, winning the historic race for a record ninth time while breaking a tie with the legendary Charlie Whittingham.
“The only difference (between the two) is Bob's got more hair,” Pegram cracked in the winner's circle.
Whittingham, one of the greatest trainers of all-time, was known as “the bald eagle” because of his shiny dome. He died in 1999 at age 86 after winning 2,534 races, including the Santa Anita Handicap eight times, the Breeders'
Cup Classic twice and the Kentucky Derby two times. He was named the Eclipse Award winner for top trainer on three occasions.
Baffert won his first Gold Cup, when the race was run at Hollywood Park before it closed in 2013, with the Pegram-owned Real Quiet in 1999. His most recent Gold Cup win before Monday came via Country Grammer in 2021.
“I would have liked to have seen Country Grammer (fourth-place finish) second and run one-two, but Defunded
is a tough horse,” Baffert said. “This horse today, he got the lead and he wasn't going to let anybody pass him. He is just improving and getting better. I was happy to see him get the mile and a quarter.”
Hernandez nursed Defunded, the 3-5 favorite, through fractions of 23.89, 47.59 and 1:11.83. Final time was 2:02.85. Defunded held off Piroli, a game 27-1 longshot, by a length after the secondplace finisher pulled alongside
the winner at the top of the stretch.
“Today he was very professional,” Hernandez said. “He broke really comfortably. He was pulling me on the backside, which is a really good sign. I waited until the last quarter and he switched leads and gave me two good jumps toward the wire. He really didn't get tired.”
The leading rider at the Hollywood Meet said the fractions were much faster (46.16 and 1:10.72) when Defunded faded to third, three-quarters of a length behind Stilleto Boy, in the Big 'Cap on March 4.
“It was a different story today,” Hernandez said.
“Piroli is a nice horse. I've ridden him before. He liked to go outside, but I had a lot of confidence in my horse for the final push to the wire.”
Hernandez said it's the first time in his career he's won two Grade I's in one day.
“I dream of these big races,” he said.
The victory was Defunded's second Grade I victory to go with his win in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita last fall. He's won seven of 17 starts for $1,588,100 in earnings as he continues to improve with age.
“It's fantastic,” coowner Karl Watson said. “It is just unbelievable. This is great.”
Pegram, who's been around the game a long time and knows the elevator rides these horses can take trainers and owners along the way, was appreciative of the victory.
“It's a tough game,” he said. “When you win you never apologize. This horse is getting good so we are going to enjoy it.”
Kiss Today Goodbye, another longshot at 371, finished third, a halflength in front of Country Grammer, the 2-1 second choice in the wagering. Senor Buscador and Yes This Time completed the order of finish in the six-horse field.
Since winning the Grade II San Antonio Stakes on opening day of Santa Anita's winter meet, Country Grammer had finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length in the $20 million Saudi Cup, and seventh in the $12 million Dubai World Cup before Monday.