Defunded Returns to Nine Furlongs in Californian

First or second the past four times he has tackled nine furlongs, Defunded  could be the solid choice at the same distance in the April 22 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The stakes joins the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) as the first two graded events during the rebranded Hollywood Meet, which opens April 21 after a week off following Santa Anita's Classic Meet.

The Hollywood Meet, which runs through June 18, encompasses dates and some stakes from when Hollywood Park ran the spring and early summer dates in Southern California. The Californian began at Hollywood Park in 1954 and has been won by such horses as Swaps in 1955, Dr. Fager in 1968, Affirmed in 1979, Spectacular Bid in 1980, and Sunday Silence in 1990.

Bob Baffert, the trainer of Defunded, won the race at Hollywood Park in 2012 with Game On Dude  and at Santa Anita in 2017-18 with Collected   and Dr. Dorr . Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman own Defunded, who captured the 2022 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) and Native Diver Stakes (G3) and ran second in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and 2021 Los Alamitos Derby (G3), all at 1 1/8 miles.

In his most recent start, the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Defunded was bumped slightly at the start, battled with stablemate Hopper  for most of the trip, and then shook free in the stretch, only to get nailed near the wire by Stilleto Boy  and Proxy . Juan Hernandez piloted Defunded for the first time in the Santa Anita Handicap, and he returns in the Californian from the rail.

Trainer Richard Mandella has won the Californian four times: in 2000 with Big Ten, 2003 with Kudos, 2015 with Catch a Flight , and 2021 with Royal Ship . He returns this year with Royal Ship, a group 1 winner in his native country. Royal Ship didn't run in the 2022 Californian, instead winning the John Shear Mile Stakes and San Diego Handicap (G2). In his only 2023 start, Royal Ship finished eighth on the turf in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T). Regular rider Mike Smith will be back aboard from post 6.

John Shirreffs sent out Express Train  to finish second in last year's Californian, and he will saddle Parnelli  this year. Victor Espinoza rode Express Train and will pilot Parnelli from post 5. Parnelli most recently finished third to Newgrange  and Hopper in the 1 1/8-mile San Pasqual Stakes (G2) Jan. 28.

“The San Pasqual was an encouraging race. (Parnelli has) been training well and should be ready to go on Saturday,” Shirreffs said.

Kiss Today Goodbye  (Hector Berrios, post 2) won the 2020 San Antonio Stakes (G2), but hasn't finished first in eight subsequent starts. Trained by Eric Kruljac, he ran second in the 2021 Native Diver, and last faced the starter in the Feb. 4 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T) on turf.

Mr. Impossible  (Ramon Vazquez, post 3) and Midnight Mammoth  (Kyle Frey, post 4) come out of allowance optional claiming company. Mr. Impossible, trained by Simon Callaghan, won a Feb. 5 race at Golden Gate Fields, while Midnight Mammoth, trained by Craig Dollase, won a March 19 race at Santa Anita. Two starts back, Dollase claimed Midnight Mammoth for $50,000 on behalf of owner Jeffrey Sengara.

Entries: Californian S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, April 22, 2023, Race 9

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Defunded (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Bob Baffert	4/5
2	2Kiss Today Goodbye (KY)	Hector Isaac Berrios	120	J. Eric Kruljac	15/1
3	3Mr. Impossible (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	120	Simon Callaghan	8/1
4	4Midnight Mammoth (KY)	Kyle Frey	120	Craig Dollase	8/1
5	5Parnelli (KY)	Victor Espinoza	120	John A. Shirreffs	4/1
6	6Royal Ship (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	122	Richard E. Mandella	3/1