Mr Fisk gives Baffert record 10th win in Hollywood Gold Cup

Mr Fisk led a 1-2 finish for Bob Baffert when scoring by 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 1/4 miles Monday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Mr Fisk found racing room turning for home after saving ground, roaring past pacesetting stablemate Reincarnate to earn his fourth stakes win and first in a Grade 1.

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Reincarnate finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Judge Miller (5-2), who was in third, with Subsanador completing the superfecta.

For Baffert, this was his 350th stakes win at Santa Anita and record-extending 10th Hollywood Gold Cup victory.

Mr Fisk completed the race in 2:03.01. As the slight favorite he paid $7.00, $3.60 and $2.60. Reincarnate, ridden by Juan Hernández, returned $3.80 and $3.00. Judge Miller, the favorite ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainer Mark Glatt, paid $3.80 to show.

After the race Kimura said he felt something slightly off with Mr Fisk when he was being pulled up. The 4-year-old Arrogate colt was taken by equine ambulance back to his barn for further evaluation.

“Kazushi Kimura said it was nothing major, but he says he just felt a little off, nothing obvious,” Baffert said. “We are just being cautious. He was a little bit off, so hopefully it’s a foot or something.”

Mr Fisk races as a homebred for Sunny Brook Stables. He is 11: 5-2-0 with $369,700 in earnings. He entered the Gold Cup off a win in the Californian (G3) at 1 1/8 miles April 20 at Santa Anita. His other stakes wins came in last year’s Native Diver (G3) and Shared Belief, both at Del Mar.

“I knew they weren’t going very fast, and he was in a good spot,” Baffert said. “Reincarnate, when he gets a lead, he’s tough. He showed up. I’m proud of them both. It’s too bad we can’t celebrate in the winner’s circle, but the horse looks like he is going to be fine. That’s the good news.”