Mr Fisk surprises with Californian Stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nearly four months after he finished a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes, Mr Fisk pulled a minor upset in Saturday’s Grade 3 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita, easily beating 3-10 favorite Judge Miller.

Ridden for the first time by Kazushi Kimura, Mr Fisk closed from last in a field of four to win the $98,000 Californian by 2 1/4 lengths over Judge Miller, who set the pace but could not withstand a challenge in early stretch.

Mr Fisk ($9.20) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.41 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“I was very comfortable coming from behind,” Kimura said.

Judge Miller had his stakes debut in the Californian, his fourth start, and was favored on Saturday for an 11-length win in an allowance race at a mile on Feb. 24 in his first start.

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Ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, Judge Miller set a slow pace of 24.67 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 48.75 for a half-mile, leading by a length over Mixto.

Mr Fisk moved alongside Judge Miller on the turn and quickly took the lead.

“We had high expectations and we got beat,” said Mark Glatt, who trains Judge Miller. “Hopefully, he’s still learning.”

Judge Miller finished a half-length in front of 4-1 Mixto, who was third in the San Pasqual and fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3 in his two preceding starts.

The multiple stakes winner None Above the Law, claimed for $50,000 in February, finished last. Mystification was withdrawn earlier on Saturday.

Mr Fisk, an Arrogate colt owned and bred by Sunny Brook Stables, has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $249,700. Last summer and fall, Mr Fisk won consecutive stakes when he finished first in a dead heat with stablemate Tahoe Sunrise in the Shared Belief Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on Labor Day weekend, and won the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes against older horses at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Thanksgiving weekend.

After the loss in the San Pasqual, trainer Bob Baffert took a patient approach with Mr Fisk through the late winter.

“We got his mind right and here we are,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “The older he gets, the better he gets.”

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