Baffert not concerned with Gold Cup distance for Mr Fisk

Mr Fisk has three stakes wins in his last four starts since September, the sort of results trainer Bob Baffert has long expected from the 4-year-old colt.

“I think he’ll get better with age,” Baffert said. “His mother could run a mile and a half and he’s by Arrogate. We know what a sire he is.”

Mr Fisk won his second start of 2024 in the Grade 3 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles against three rivals on April 20. On Monday, Mr Fisk, who typically races as a closer, starts in the longest race of his career in the Grade 2 $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita.

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“It won’t be a problem,” Baffert said of the distance. “I think it depends on how the race sets up.”

The Gold Cup is not what it used to be. Last year, it was a Grade 1 and had a purse of $400,000. Still, the race plays an important role as a prep for more lucrative races later this summer, notably the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

Mr Fisk, who races for Sunny Brook Stables, is part of a field of eight in the Gold Cup, which includes Judge Miller and Mixto, who were second and third in the Californian.

Other contenders are Subsanador and Reincarnate, who were second and third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles in March. Reincarnate, also trained by Baffert, was fourth on April 20 in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

Judge Miller will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time on Monday. The 3-10 favorite in the Californian, Judge Miller set the pace before fading to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind Mr Fisk.

For the Gold Cup, Judge Miller will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in his fifth start. A 4-year-old colt by Curlin, Judge Miller has worked while wearing the equipment this month.

“I want to put more focus in him,” trainer Mark Glatt said.

In the Gold Cup, Judge Miller is likely to follow the outsiders Arrowthegreat or Ashcroft, who are capable of leading.

“I think he found himself on the lead last time and it doesn’t look like that will happen this time,” Glatt said. “I think he’s a better horse with a target.

“Second time against stakes company, I think it will set up a bit different. He doesn’t have to win the race and we want to see a step forward from last time, taking into consideration that he lacks seasoning compared to most.”

The Gold Cup is Subsanador’s first start since he was sold privately to Wathnan Stud of Qatar and transferred to trainer Richard Mandella. Subsanador was a six-time stakes winner in Argentina in 2022 and 2023.

“He’s training very well,” Mandella said. “I don’t see any reason why he won’t run a great race.”

Eagles Flight debuts

He works fast, and has a world famous sibling. Other than that, there is no pressure surrounding the debut of Eagles Flight in a maiden race at six furlongs on Monday.

By Curlin and out of the mare Feathered, Eagles Flight is a 3-year-old half-brother to Flightline, the undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year.

Similar to Flightline, Eagles Flight is trained by John Sadler and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. Eagles Flight races for the partnership of Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, and W.S. Farish. Hronis Racing and Summer Wind Equine were part of the partnership that owned Flightline.

To an extent, Sadler tried to downplay expectations for Eagles Flight.

“I think he’s a prospect,” Sadler said. “We don’t play the comparison game. That’s not fair. We’re anxious to get him going.”

Flightline won six starts by a combined 71 lengths. His smallest margin of victory was six lengths in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park in 2022. He won his final start by 8 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland that November.

Eagles Flight has repeatedly delivered quick works in recent weeks, notably five furlongs from the gate in 58.60 seconds on May 11 and five furlongs in 58.80 on May 19.

“He looks good in all of them,” Sadler said. “He’s on schedule.”

Eagles Flight is part of a field of 10 in the eighth race on an 11-race program.

Trainer Mark Glatt has two notable runners in the maiden race. Santerena has raced three times with second-place finishes in his last two starts. The first-time starter Visceral is a colt by Violence who has displayed a series of quick works this month.

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