Baffert Wins Eighth Awesome Again With Defunded

Most horses enjoy spending the summer at Del Mar, but not Defunded .

"He was a compete wreck at Del Mar," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said.

Once back at Santa Anita Park, Defunded reversed his form. Coming off two unplaced efforts at Del Mar, the Dialed In   gelding responded to being back "home" with a front-running win in the Oct. 1 Awesome Again Stakes (G1). And while he didn't turn in a performance to rival the absent Flightline 's 19 1/4-length domination in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1), Defunded beat a field that included Country Grammer , Royal Ship , and Express Train , who finished second, third, and fourth to Flightline.

Baffert, who won his eighth Awesome Again (run as the Goodwood until 2012), entered four in the 1 1/8-mile race, which offers a Breeders' Cup Challenge berth to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Bettors backed Country Grammer, who earlier this year won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), down to 11-10 favoritism. Royal Ship and Express Train were the second and third choices, followed by Defunded at 5-1. The other four went off at double digits.

With Del Mar leading rider Juan Hernandez aboard Country Grammer and Abel Cedillo, Defunded's regular jockey, on Baffert-trained High Connection , Baffert named Edwin Maldonado on Defunded.

"I think he's a really good rider, and he rides my horses really well," Baffert said. "He rides them with confidence. I love to put him on speed horses. He's so smooth out of the gate. He just gets horses running away from there."

Maldonado did just that in the Awesome Again, breaking Defunded on top. The rest of the field left him alone through the first part of the race as Defunded completed the first quarter-mile in :22.67 and a half-mile in :46.70.

Slow Down Andy , a California-bred 3-year-old coming off a turf win in the Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby (G2T), stumbled badly at the start, but got back into the race for jockey Mario Gutierrez. He ranged up close to Defunded on the backside, yet Defunded held him at bay. Slow Down Andy gamely took another run at him around the second turn, an effort that ultimately proved futile.

Defunded kept to his task all through the stretch, expanding what had been a length lead through most of the race to 1 3/4 lengths at the wire in 1:49.38. Country Grammer came on to grab second from Slow Down Andy by a half-length. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Express Train in fourth.

"Bob told me I had a great shot in this race, so put him on the lead," said Maldonado. "And when Bob says you have a shot, you have a shot."

Baffert noted that Country Grammer "didn't have that punch like he usually has today—he could be getting a little tired."

Baffert trains Defunded for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who led all owners at the recent Del Mar meeting, despite Defunded not contributing to the cause. The Awesome Again was Defunded's first stakes win. He ran second in this year's Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and in the 2021 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) and Affirmed Stakes (G3).

At Del Mar, Defunded finished seventh in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and sixth in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2).

"He just couldn't handle that paddock down there," said Baffert. "He had a complete meltdown."

Pegram, Watson, and Weitman bought Defunded in the name of Three Amigos from Eaton Sales for $210,000 at 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale. Athens Woods bred the son of Dialed In  -Wind Caper , by Touch Gold , in Kentucky.

The Del Mar meeting wasn't the first time Defunded proved to be a challenge.

"He's one that we had to geld early because he was tough," Baffert said.

The question arose as to whether Defunded would like Keeneland, where this year's Breeders' Cup is being held.

"We don't know yet," admitted Baffert. "We know it's a Win & You're In. We're going to think about that and,"—Baffert smiled and added—"look at the competition. I don't know if he's mentally capable of handling that Keeneland paddock. I'm not sure. Right now we're just going to enjoy this win."

Accelerate   in 2018 is the last horse to win the Awesome Again and the Breeders' Cup Classic. John Sadler, the trainer of Flightline, conditioned Accelerate, who was voted that season's champion older dirt male. Baffert has won the Classic four times—with 3-year-old Bayern  in 2014, 3-year-old American Pharoah   in 2015, 4-year-old Arrogate  in 2016, and 3-year-old Authentic   in 2020. None of those competed in the Awesome Again. However, Baffert won the Awesome Again (or Goodwood) and then finished second in the Classic with Medina Spirit  in 2021, Improbable   in 2020, Game On Dude  in 2011, and Silver Charm  in 1998.

Video: Awesome Again S. (G1)