Defunded Shows New Dimension in Californian Victory

Trainer Bob Baffert discovered an entirely new dimension to Defunded  in the April 22 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. But it certainly wasn't by design.

Defunded, who usually likes to set the pace, has had gate issues in the past. This time Baffert was pleased when he saw Defunded standing in the gate "perfectly." But timing is everything, and a fraction of a second before the gate opened, Defunded stepped back, resulting in his hopping out of the gate and coming away last of the six runners.

Baffert and Karl Watson, who owns Defunded with Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, could only watch as the 1-5 favorite trailed the field while longshot Midnight Mammoth  set the pace in what, under normal circumstances, would have been Defunded's role.

Juan Hernandez demonstrated why he is Santa Anita's leading jockey. Prior to the 1 1/8-mile Californian, he had only ridden Defunded once, when they led through most of the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 4, only to get caught in deep stretch. They finished third that day to Stilleto Boy  and Proxy , who finished third and first, respectively, in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap (G2) the same day as the Californian.

"I thought about going to Oaklawn, but there was so much speed in that race," Baffert said. "Then I was going to skip this race, but Defunded breezed so well the other day."

Baffert, who previously won the Californian in 2012 with Game On Dude , 2017 with Collected  , and 2018 with Dr. Dorr , decided to run Defunded. What he discovered was that Defunded could come from off the pace just as professionally as he could set it.

Still last after six furlongs, Defunded gathered himself and launched a wide move around the second turn that slingshot him past the field as if he had been coming from behind his entire career. He surged forward to take the lead in the stretch before drawing out for a three-length victory in 1:48.91 over Royal Ship . Midnight Mammoth, a $50,000 claim two starts back, finished third.

Watson headed for the winner's circle, still amazed at what he had witnessed.

"I thought it was pretty good after it was over," Watson said. "When he hopped out of the gate, that wasn't good. I hoped he'd sit there and relax and make a run for it. That's all you can hope for. We didn't know we had a Plan B."

Baffert and Hernandez noted that Defunded never got rank, a key to the win. 

"He relaxed very well and was having fun down the backside," Hernandez said. "The dirt wasn't bothering him at all, so that was perfect."

Baffert acknowledged that the 5-year-old gelding's best distance is probably 1 1/8 miles. In his past five attempts at the distance, Defunded now has wins in the Californian, 2022 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), and 2022 Native Diver Stakes (G3), and seconds in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and 2021 Los Alamitos Derby (G3). But he's also done well at 1 1/4 miles, with his third in the Santa Anita Handicap and second in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1).

"He's always been a bit of a head case," Baffert said. "But he's maturing and filling out. He was a tough 2-year-old."

Defunded, a Kentucky-bred son of Dialed In  –Wind Caper , by Touch Gold , bred by Athens Woods, started only once at 2, running third. He now has six wins, four seconds, and two thirds in 16 starts for earnings of $1,348,100. He cost his owners $210,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was part of the Eaton Sales consignment.

Video: Californian S. (G2)