The Sunny Brook Stables In the last furlong of Monday's GII Hollywood Gold Cup, Mr. Fisk (Arrogate) connected with stablemate Reincarnate (Good Magic) and overcame that opponent to record his third graded win in his previous four starts.
Juan Hernandez was equally confident aboard Reincarnate from the inside barrier and sent the 4-year-old into the lead passing the winning post with a circuit of the Great Race Place to traverse. Wathnan Racing's recent private purchase Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) won the break and held the advantage of passing the stands for the first time. Curlin, who had strong support from Judge Miller, sat out three deep, and Mr. Fisk improved to fourth place as he rounded the clubhouse turn.
Over the following couple of furlongs, the running order did not change much, but Kazushi Kimura let Mr Fisk gradually gain ground at the fence and was ready to close the distance behind the leading trio as they approached the far turn. When Subsanador started to send out distress signals from the quarter pole, Kimura drove Mr Fisk through that opening and the war was joined. Reincarnate held the call. Into the last furlong, the stablemates were running side by side, but Mr Fisk outran them both in the closing stages and emerged victorious with ease. Kimura stated that the colt felt 'odd' during the gallop-out, so Mr Fisk was vanned off the track and transported to the barn area for assessment.
“Kazushi Kimura said it was nothing major, but he says he just felt a little off, nothing obvious,” said trainer Bob Baffert, winning his 10th Gold Cup and 350th Santa Anita stakes race overall. “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. I knew they weren't going very fast, and he was in a good spot. 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.”
Baffert offered an update on X later in the evening,” Mr Fisk is resting comfortably in his stall, ready for dinner. He has a condylar fracture and will have surgery [Tuesday]. His prognosis is excellent. Jockey Kazushi Kimura took great care of his horse.”
Mr. Fisk, who won the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar in a dead heat the previous year, made his graded debut in the Bing Crosby meet in November in the GIII Native Diver S. After finishing fifth wide in the GII San Pasqual S on January 27, he recovered well to defeat Judge Miller handily in the GIII Californian S on April 20.