Baffert has Collected, Cupid in Californian Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The multiple stakes winners Collected and Cupid make a very good B team for trainer Bob Baffert in Saturday’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita.

Horses who share a stable with Arrogate will always be overshadowed, even when that 4-year-old colt is only in light training after winning the $12 million Pegasus World Cup and the $10 million Dubai World Cup in consecutive starts this year.

Collected and Cupid are early in their 4-year-old seasons. They give Baffert depth in the $200,000 Californian, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. The race is a prep for the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27.

The Californian drew a field of six, including Prospect Park, who won an optional claimer on turf last month, and the turf-stakes winner Texas Ryano. Prime Attraction will have his stakes debut in the Californian, while Follow Me Crev is a danger from off the pace in his first start since a third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 11.

KEY CONTENDERS

Collected, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 101-70-90

◗ Collected was brilliant in winning his first race of the year in the minor Santana Mile by 3 3/4 lengths April 1. The Santana Mile was Collected’s first start since a 10th in the Preakness Stakes last May. Earlier in 2016, Collected won three stakes for 3-year-olds.

◗ Owned by Speedway Stable, Collected, who drew the rail, has often shown speed and has a style similar to Cupid, who will break from post 2. Baffert was unsure Thursday how tactics would develop.

“Let’s see how he breaks,” Baffert said of Collected. “I don’t like the draw too well.”

Cupid, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 84-95-92

◗ Cupid won half of his eight starts and earned $1,334,103 in 2016, a season highlighted by lucrative wins in three Grade 2 stakes for 3-year-olds: the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand, and the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. The season ended after an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.

◗ For his comeback, Cupid has worked steadily over longer distances this month, including seven-furlong workouts April 10 and April 16.

◗ Baffert sees Cupid as a candidate for the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

“It’s a good prep,” Baffert said. “I don’t want to run him in a stakes, but there is no allowance race.”

Prime Attraction, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 97-91-77

◗ Prime Attraction will face a stern class test in the Californian, having won consecutive optional claimers at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 25 and at 1 1/8 miles on turf March 18. Purchased for $335,000 as a yearling in 2014, the 4-year-old Prime Attraction beat maidens last November and has won half of his six starts.

◗ Trainer Jim Cassidy said Prime Attraction was always meant for longer races even though his career did not begin in earnest until last fall.

“Those route horses take forever,” he said.

◗ Prime Attraction is best suited to racing near the front, which eliminates any suspense about race tactics.

“He’ll have to be up front,” Cassidy said.