Mr Fisk, after win in Californian, targets Hollywood Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. - Several hours apart on Saturday, well-accomplished 4-year-olds trained by Bob Baffert were in action at Santa Anita. One is being prepared for a highly anticipated campaign in the second half of 2024, while the other is attempting to establish a meaningful role in the older male division.

On Saturday morning, Arabian Knight, winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last September but unraced since a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds, his second workout of the year.

A winner of 3 of 5 starts who has earned $1,544,275 for Amr Zedan, Arabian Knight is expected to have a late spring or early summer return.

“He’s got a ways to go,” Baffert said on Sunday.

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On Saturday afternoon, Mr Fisk won his third stakes for owner Kyle Brookshire and Baffert in the Grade 3 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, a prep for the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 27.

Mr Fisk won two stakes at Del Mar last September and November, including the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles against older horses, but was a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January in his only previous start this year.

“We’ve always been high on the horse,” Baffert said. “He had a bad race last time. We got his mind right. A lot of it is mental with him.”

The $200,000 Gold Cup is the leading race for older horses in the spring portion of the Santa Anita six-month meeting that runs through June 16. Baffert said in the winner’s circle on Saturday that the Gold Cup is a next-race goal for Mr Fisk.

Baffert has a deep bench of 4-year-olds, including National Treasure and Newgate, Grade 1 winners this year who are expected to be important runners in major stakes later this year.

National Treasure has resumed training after finishing fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. National Treasure, who worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on April 12, won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27, a $3 million race at 1 1/8 miles.

Newgate won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3, but disappointed when ninth of 12 in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 30.

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