Defunded looks best in Californian Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Defunded enters the Grade 2 Californian Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita with high expectations and low odds. He could start as the most heavily favored runner on the card.

Third last out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Defunded goes into the Californian with attributes that include a cutback from 1 1/4 miles to a mile and one-eighth, easier company, and a speed-pace advantage. Defunded has the highest speed figures in the field, and he faces only one other front-runner.

The $200,000 Californian goes as race 9, and includes 2021 Californian winner Royal Ship, graded stakes-placed Parnelli, graded winner Kiss Today Goodbye, and last-out allowance winners Midnight Mammoth and Mr. Impossible.

None is as accomplished as Defunded, a Grade 1 winner whose 15 starts include five wins and earnings of $1,228,100. Juan Hernandez rides for trainer Bob Baffert. If he avoids a pace duel with Midnight Mammoth, Defunded will be tough to beat.

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Parnelli looms the main threat while making his first start in nearly three months. A promising third-place comeback in the Grade 2 San Pasqual in January could have set up Parnelli for the Santa Anita Handicap in March, but nature had other ideas.

Trainer John Shirreffs said he skipped the Big Cap “because of the weather.”

“He missed so many days of training,” Shirreffs said. “He ran too well in the San Pasqual to run a short horse in the Santa Anita Handicap.”

Parnelli, a 5-year-old horse by Quality Road, should be poised for his best season. He has won three races and $213,320 from 17 starts. His last-out 94 Beyer ranks second only to the 96 by Defunded as the field’s highest last-out figure. Victor Espinoza rides Parnelli.

Royal Ship is the second most accomplished horse in the Californian, having won eight races, including four graded or group races. However, the 7-year-old’s last-place finish in the Frank Kilroe Mile on turf, his first race in five months, produced more questions than answers.

“I’m hoping it was just the turf,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “I thought he’d enjoy the grass first time back, but he didn’t. Maybe I confused him. He sure confused me. He’s training good.”

When he fires, Royal Ship ranks among the top older horses in California. He finished second by a head in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in 2021, and last summer won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Royal Ship, 8 for 21 with $691,405 in earnings, will be ridden by Mike Smith.

Midnight Mammoth is a potential pace threat to Defunded. Midnight Mammoth scored a sharp win last out in a second-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race in his first start since being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Craig Dollase and owner Jeffrey Sengara.

Sengara campaigned the popular late gelding Budroyale from 1998 through 2001. Claimed for $50,000 in early 1998, Budroyale won eight stakes for Sengara before he retired with 17 wins and $2,840,810 in earnings from 52 starts. Kyle Frey rides Midnight Mammoth.

The next race for the handicap division at Santa Anita is the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 29.

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