Mr Fisk victorious in the Californian (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
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Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Mr Fisk used a last-to-first rally under Kazushi Kimura to take down the GIII, $100,000 Californian Stakes going 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Santa Anita.
Mr Fisk (7-2) drew even with pacesetting favorite (1-5) Judge Miller near the quarter pole then drew from that rival in the stretch to score comfortably by 2 ¼ lengths. Judge Miller, who was making his stakes debut under Hall of Famer Mike Smith, held on for second by a half-length over Mixto (4-1).
Trained by Bob Baffert, Mr Fisk won in a final time of 1:49.41. He returned $9.20 and $2.80. Judge Miller paid $2.10. There was no show wagering following the scratch of Mystification.
For Kimura, a 23-year-old native of Japan, it was his third win on Saturday’s card. He also won the third on Normandy Landing ($5.80) for Baffert and the fourth with Travelin’ Show ($19) for trainer Craig Lewis.
“He was very comfortable behind horses,” Kimura said of Mr Fisk. “At the half mile pole it seemed like the time to go. When I have that good of a horse from Bob Baffert, I have the confidence that I will have a comfortable ride.”
Judge Miller, trained by Mark Glatt, set comfortable fractions of 24.67, 48.75 and 1:12.78 for six furlongs. Despite being last of four, Mr Fisk was never farther than two lengths back of the leader before launching his winning bid.
“He is getting better,” Baffert said. “I have a great team and we’ve been schooling him. He’s tough. He can be really tough and aggressive.
A 4-year-old colt by Arrogate, Mr Fisk earned $60,000 for the victory. He has now banked $249,700 with a record of 10: 4-2-0 for owner-breeder Sunny Brook Stable.
Last year, Mr Fisk won the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes and 1 1/8-mile GIII Native Diver, both at Del Mar. In his only previous start this year on Jan. 27, he was a no-threat fifth in the GII San Pasqual at 1 1/16 miles.
Next up for Mr Fisk is likely the GII, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 27.
“The owners they let me freshen him up and get him right for this race,” Baffert said. “We are looking down the road at the Gold Cup, at a mile and a quarter. Being by Arrogate he is bred for this.”
