Defunded runs away with Awesome Again, but may not run in BC Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Defunded sped to a front-running upset Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but trainer Bob Baffert hinted the 4-year-old gelding might stay home rather than ship to Keeneland to face Flightline in the BC Classic.

Same thing for Country Grammer, the Awesome Again runner-up who is tailing off after a successful season in which he won the Dubai World Cup and earned more than $10 million.

On Saturday in the Awesome Again, Defunded and jockey Edwin Maldonado raced to the lead and never looked back. Country Grammer, the even-money favorite who was under a drive much of the race, finished a grinding second, a half-length in front of Slow Down Andy.

The win was Maldonado’s first Grade 1, and Baffert’s eighth in the 1 1/8-mile race. In terms of Breeders’ Cup significance, the Awesome Again might turn out irrelevant.

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“He likes this (Santa Anita) track,” Baffert said of Defunded. Would he like Keeneland? “I don’t know, we don’t know,” Baffert said. “We know (the Awesome Again) is a Win and You’re In, we’ll think about that. I don’t know if he’s mentally capable of handling that Keeneland paddock.”

Baffert seemed to be suggesting Defunded ($12) could pass on the BC Classic. He hinted at the same thing regarding Country Grammer.

“Country Grammer didn’t have that punch like he usually has,” Baffert said. “He (jockey Juan Hernandez) was having to ask him the whole way around. He could be getting a little tired.”

The Awesome Again represented a return to form for Defunded, runner-up in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup early this year at Santa Anita before he finished off the board twice in summer at Del Mar.

“He was a complete wreck at Del Mar,” Baffert said. “He lost it completely. He couldn’t handle that paddock. Today he was perfect.”

Maldonado put Defunded on the lead in the Awesome Again, set fractions of 46.70 and 1:10.89, turned back a challenge from pace-presser Slow Down Andy into the lane, and won by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:49.38. He was given a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

It was Maldonado's sixth win for Baffert from 18 mounts.

“I love to put him on speed horses,” Baffert said. “He’s so smooth out of the gate.”

After the top three in the Awesome Again, the order of finish was Express Train, Tripoli, Royal Ship, High Connection and Azul Coast.

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