Mr Fisk captures the Hollywood Gold Cup (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Mr Fisk led a one-two finish for Bob Baffert when scoring by 2 ¼ lengths in the GII, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 ¼ miles Monday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Mr Fisk found racing room turning for home after saving ground and roared past pacesetting stablemate Reincarnate to earn his fourth stakes win and first in a Grade 1. Reincarnate finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Judge Miller (5-2) 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 1 ¼ miles in 2:03.01. As the slight favorite, he paid $7.00, $3.60 and $2.60. Reincarnate, ridden by Juan Hernandez, returned $3.80 and $3.00. Judge Miller, the favorite ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainer Mark Glatt, paid $3.80 to show.
Following 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 the barn for further evaluation.
Mr Fisk races as a homebred for Sunny Brook Stables. He is now 11: 5-2-0 with $369,700 in earnings. He entered the Gold Cup off a win in the GIII Californian at 1 1/8 miles April 20 at Santa Anita. His other stakes wins came in last year’s GIII Native Diver and Shared Belief, both at Del Mar.
GRADE II, $200,000 HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP STAKES QUOTES
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, MR FISK, WINNER: “Kazushi Kimura said it was nothing major, but he says he just felt a little off, nothing obvious. We are just being cautious. He was a little bit off so hopefully it’s a foot or something. My horses ran great, both of them, one and two like that. But hopefully we will get him back to the barn and right now it sounds minor.
“I knew they weren’t going very fast, and he was in a good spot . Reincarnate when he gets a lead, he’s tough. H e 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.”
NOTES: The winning owner/breeder is Sunny Brook Stables LLC.
