Defunded part of Baffert's strong team of older horses

Defunded, the winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, is only one of several older horses who are candidates for major stakes this summer for trainer Bob Baffert.

The next major stakes on the main track for older horses is the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 29.

Defunded won his third stakes in his last five starts in the 1 1/8-mile Californian. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Defunded hopped in the air at the start and closed from last of six to win by a convincing three lengths.

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Defunded typically races near the front.

“He’s always been one-dimensional,” Baffert said in the winners’ circle on Saturday. “He’s smarter as he gets older. He’s been a little bit of a head case and he’s starting to figure it out.”

Baffert also trains the older horses Taiba, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2022 who was eighth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in February in his only start this year, and Country Grammer, who was second in the Saudi Cup and seventh in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 25. Both have resumed workouts at Santa Anita.

Baffert’s team also includes Hopper, who won the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile on April 1 for his second stakes win. A 4-year-old, Hopper worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Santa Anita on Monday.

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