STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN THURSDAY, SEPT. 26, 2024

Photo: Zoe Metz

• CALIF. CROWN: FINCHER WARY OF PACE SCENARIO FOR ‘BUSCADOR • JOHN HENRY: D’AMATO QUARTET LOOMS LARGE IN GII TURF TEST • CALIFORNIA CROWN RACES WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ON CNBC, PEACOCK • 16-DAY AUTUMN MEET STARTS FRIDAY WITH 9-RACE CARD

CALIFORNIA CROWN: FINCHER WARY OF PACE SCENARIO FOR ‘BUSCADOR It’s been a year to remember for trainer Todd Fincher, Peacock Family Racing Stable and all those associated with veteran campaigner Senor Buscador, who returns to action in Saturday’s Grade I, $1 million California Crown presented by SirDavis American Whisky at Santa Anita.

In four starts this year, Senor Buscador has racked up more than $11.7 million in earnings. He won the world’s richest horse race in February, the $20 million Saudi Cup; was third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in March; and second by just a neck to California Crown rival National Treasure in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup in January at Gulfstream Park. “It’s been fun,” Fincher said by phone Wednesday afternoon.

Connections hope the fun times will continue through two more starts this year, starting with Saturday’s California Crown and ending with the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Senor Buscador was one of seven horses entered Monday for the first-ever California Crown, which is contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. The field will be reduced by at least one, however. Trainer John Sadler Thursday morning confirmed Indispensable has shipped to Remington Park where he will compete instead in the GIII, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.

After Senor Buscador’s trip to the Middle East, he received a nearly five-month vacation before resurfacing at Del Mar in the GII Pat O’Brien sprinting seven furlongs Aug. 24. He would finish fourth that day, behind winner Raging Torrent, in what Fincher described as a “great” comeback effort.

“He ran against some very fast horses,” Fincher said. "It might not look like it on paper, but he ran a very good race.” Senor Buscador now gets to stretch-out around two turns where he has been his most effective. That’s the good news. The concern for Fincher is the likely pace scenario he faces in the California Crown. Three of the runners—National Treasure, Muth and Newgate—are all trained by Bob Baffert. Fincher thinks that will pose a problem for jockey Joe Talamo and Senor Buscador, whose preferred running style is to lag behind early and come running late.

“That’s not conducive for us. I just don’t think the race is going to set up,” Fincher said. “I know he’ll run a good race, but I’m probably going to be on the losing end. Still, this should set him up great for the Breeders’ Cup, which will likely be loaded with a lot more speed.”

The winner of Saturday’s California Crown receives an automatic berth into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. The California Crown is one of five stakes on Saturday. Also set to go is the GII, $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship presented by 1/ST Bet; GII, $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Stakes presented by FanDuel ; GII, $200,000 City of Hope Mile, presented by MyRacehorse, a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile; and $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes presented by TAA for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf.

The California Crown, John Henry and Eddie D will all be aired nationally on CNBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 3 p.m. PT. The California Crown goes as the ninth race on a 10-race card with post time set for 4:40 p.m. The field in post position order: Newgate, John Velazquez (6-1); Subsanador, Mike Smith (5-1); National Treasure, Flavien Prat (8-5); Katonah, Tiago Pereira (15-1); Muth, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Senor Buscador, Joe Talamo (6-1); Indispensable, Hector Berrios (20-1).

JOHN HENRY: D’AMATO QUARTET LOOMS LARGE IN GII TURF TEST Phil D’Amato, one of the nation’s top turf trainers, will have four chances at claiming a fourth John Henry Turf Championship Saturday at Santa Anita. The Grade II turf test at 1 ¼ miles, now known as the California Crown John Henry presented by 1/ST Bet, this year carries a lucrative $750,000 purse.

D’Amato’s John Henry runners are Grade I winner and likely favorite Gold Phoenix; veteran graded-stakes winners Balnikhov and Rockemperor; plus the ascending 4-year-old Divin Propos.

While Gold Phoenix would appear the most likely winner of the four Saturday, a win by Balnikhov would provide the biggest story line. If Balnikhov were to prevail, he would be in line to receive a $2.5 million bonus if he was also to win the GI, $1 million, Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January. The lucrative bonus, funded by 1/ST Racing, was announced earlier this year for any horse that could win the GIII Dinner Party at Pimlico, John Henry and Pegasus World Cup Turf. Balnikhov won the Dinner Party in May on the Preakness undercard.

“That sure wouldn’t hurt,” D’Amato said of the bonus. “If we can win Saturday, we’ll definitely be Pegasus bound. But one race at a time.”

Balnikhov, who is 28: 7-5-6 with $1,053,843 in earnings, is owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable. Most recently, in the GII Del Mar Handicap Aug. 31, Balnikhov was beaten a neck by Gold Phoenix under Kazushi Kimura. On Saturday, top jockey Flavien Prat takes over in the irons.

“He’s a horse that can benefit from a good pace, but really what we have found out is he likes these longer distances,” D’Amato said. “That’s the key for him.”

After winning his third consecutive Del Mar Handicap last month, Gold Phoenix is on track for a third appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Last year at Santa Anita, Gold Phoenix finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, 2 ½ lengths back of winner Auguste Rodin.

“We’ve run him in the Breeders’ Cup the last couple years and that’s what we point too with him, “D’Amato said. “He ran great in the Del Mar Handicap. This should set him up nicely for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Divin Propos will be making his U.S. stakes debut. In his third domestic start Aug. 22 at Del Mar, Divin Propos easily dismissed an allowance field going 1 3/8 miles under Antonio Fresu.

“He’s a young horse that we’ve kind of taken our time with developing,” D’Amato said. “I was very impressed with his win at Del Mar. His best attribute is his tactical ability. He has some speed and a nice turn of foot. He’s not compromised by race shape.”

The California Crown John Henry goes as the seventh race at approximately 3:30 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Cabo Spirit, Abel Cedillo (30-1); Seven Wonders, Kazushi Kimura (20-1); Divin Propos, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Master Piece, Juan Hernandez (9-2); Dicey Mo Chara, Hector Berrios (4-1); Rockemperor, Umberto Rispoli (10-1); Big Blue Line, Luan Machado (20-1); El Encinal, Armando Ayuso (20-1); Gold Phoenix, Kyle Frey (7-2); There Goes Harvard, John Velazquez (6-1); Balnikhov, Flavien Prat (5-1).

CALIFORNIA CROWN RACES WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ON CNBC, PEACOCK Santa Anita will be in the national spotlight Saturday as all three California Crown races—the $750,000 California Crown John Henry, $750,000 California Crown Eddie D and $1 million California Crown itself—will be aired live on CNBC and streamed on Peacock.

The two-hour broadcast begins at 3 p.m. PT. The California Crown, which is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, will go at 4:40 p.m.

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Britney Eurton with analyst Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Baliey. Nick Luck (reporter) and Santa Anita’s Michelle Yu (handicapper) will also be part of the broadcast team.

California’s richest day of racing will feature VIP area trackside performances by Gryffin, Lil Yachty, Shaboozey, Frank Walker and Zack Bia. Luxury hospitality experiences will be curated by Delilah, Funke by Chef Evan Funke and Wally’s.

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita’s 16-day Autumn Meet kicks off Friday with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT…With a 12:30 p.m. first post on Saturday, California Crown Day, admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m…Multiple Grade I winner Adare Manor has been retired. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, who won 10-of-18 starts and $2 million in earnings for owner Michael Lund Petersen and trainer Bob Baffert, will be offered this fall at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Kentucky… The popular $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 featuring a player-friendly 15 percent takeout returns Saturday. The wager, which combines races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, will be offered every Saturday and Sunday during Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet, which concludes Oct. 27. Saturday’s Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 2:08 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream. The sequence also includes the California Crown John Henry Turf presented by 1/ST Bet, California Crown Eddie D presented by FanDuel and City of Hope Mile presented by MyRacehorse from Santa Anita.