Defunded takes Hernandez to another Grade 1 in Hollywood Gold Cup
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ARCADIA, Calif. -- It’s hard to say who is having a better spring at Santa Anita – Defunded, who won his second consecutive stakes in Monday’s Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup, or Juan Hernandez, the dominant rider at the track.
Defunded ($3.20) led throughout the $400,500 Hollywood Gold Cup to win his fourth career stakes, and first at 1 1/4 miles.
The victory gave Hernandez his second Grade 1 win on Monday. In the preceding race, Hernandez rode Exaulted to a victory in the $503,000 Shoemaker Mile.
“You dream about these big races,” Hernandez said.
Defunded repelled a stubborn challenge from 28-1 Piroli to win by a length in 2:02.85. Defunded earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100.
While Piroli seemed poised to take the lead in early stretch, Defunded gave Hernandez confidence that the 5-year-old gelding was racing within himself after setting a decent pace of 47.59 seconds for a half-mile and 1:11.83 for six furlongs.
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“I put him on the lead and he was comfortable,” Hernandez said. “He was pulling on the backside and that’s a good sign.”
Piroli, who had his stakes debut in the Gold Cup, was second throughout under Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux and was within a half-length of Defunded on the backstretch and turn while racing on the outside of the pair.
“He tried to win,” Desormeaux said. “Congrats to Defunded. I went after him. I tried to pass him, and Defunded wouldn’t let him.”
Hernandez rode Piroli to a third-place finish in an allowance race on May 13 and knew that rival would be a factor in the stretch.
“I know that horse can run and he likes to be on the outside,” Hernandez said.
Defunded led by a length with a furlong remaining and held that advantage to the finish.
“He gave me two really good jumps” in early stretch, Hernandez said.
Defunded, trained by Bob Baffert for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 22 for his first stakes win of 2023. Last fall, Defunded won the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.
It was a record ninth Hollywood Gold Cup victory for Baffert, who has won the race at both Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. Charlie Whittingham had eight Gold Cup victories.
Piroli finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of 37-1 Kiss Today Goodbye, who was fourth behind Defunded in the Californian. Country Grammer (2-1) finished a quiet fourth, beaten 4 3/4 lengths in his first start since a seventh-place finish in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 27.
Senor Buscador finished sixth, followed by Yes This Time.
Kiss Today Goodbye, who was ridden by Hector Berrios on Monday, is winless in nine starts since the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes here in December 2020.
The Hollywood Gold Cup was the first time Kiss Today Goodbye has finished in the first three in a stakes in five stakes appearances since a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar in November 2021.
“Hector gave him a good ride,” trainer Eric Kruljac said. “He’s a difficult ride and has his moments. He kept hustling him. This is his best race by a ton.”
Defunded was Hernandez’s ninth stakes win of the Santa Anita spring meeting, which began on April 21. The next three riders in the standings – Joe Bravo, Hector Berrios, and Umberto Rispoli – have a combined eight wins
Rainbow pick six pays over $40K
With a few mid- and long-priced winners in the sequence, the Rainbow pick six jackpot, which had a mandatory payout Monday, returned $40,920.60. There were 75 winning tickets in the total pool of $3,919,931, with over $3.5 million in new 20-cent wagers poured into the pot.
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