Working from mid-pack early, Mr Fisk moved forward on the
backstretch, got in touch with his pacesetting stablemate in the second turn
and drew away in the run home to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup
on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Trainer Bob Baffert extended his record for most wins in the
race to 10. It was the first Gold Cup victory for owner Larry Brookshire’s
Sunny Brook Stables and for jockey Kazushi Kimura.
Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.
Mr Fisk (5-2), the slight favorite in the field of seven, was
in fifth place the first time past the grandstand in the 1 1/4-mile race. Reincarnate
(3-1), also trained by Baffert, led through the first quarter-mile in 23.58
seconds. He also led through a half-mile in 47.25 seconds, but Mr Fisk had
moved up to third, about three lengths back.
No more than about 2 1/2 lengths separated the top four
after three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.19. Reincarnate was joined on the pace
by Subsanador (3-1) and Arrowthegreat (25-1) with Mr Fisk traveling a close
fourth.
It was a three-horse race after a mile in 1:36.88 with
Reincarnate holding a narrow lead over Subsanador and the oncoming Mr Fisk.
Taking the two path, Mr Fisk asserted himself and pulled away to about a
two-length win with a time of 2:03.01.
Reincarnate, with Juan Hernández up, finished second to give
Baffert the exacta. Judge Miller (5-2), the second choice, finished third.
Subsanador was fourth and Mixto (8-1) fifth.
Mr Fisk paid $7.00, $3.60 and $2.60; Reincarnate $3.80 and
$3.00; and Judge Miller $3.80.
A Grade 3 winner twice before in the Native Diver on Nov. 26
at Del Mar and the Californian on April 20 at Santa Anita, Mr Fisk ran his
record to 11: 5-2-0. The 4-year-old Arrogate colt is 3-for-4 against open
company.
This story will be updated.