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“He was an absolute wreck in Del Mar,” Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert said.
Once back at Santa Anita ParkDefunded reversed its form. After two unsuccessful attempts at Del Mar, he has Dialed in The gelding responded to being back “home” with a top win in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) on October 1st. And although he didn't deliver a performance that could keep up with those absent airline With a 19 1/4-length dominance in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1), Defunded beat a field that included the following Country grammarian , Royal ship And Express train who took second, third and fourth places behind Flightline.
Baffert, who won his eighth Awesome Again (raced as Goodwood until 2012), entered four in the 1 1/8-mile race that offers a spot in the Breeders' Cup Challenge for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). . Bettors backed Country Grammer, who won the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) earlier this year, with an 11-10 favour. Royal Ship and Express Train were the second and third choices, followed by Defunded at 5-1. The other four scored double digits.
With Del Mar frontrunner Juan Hernandez aboard Country Grammer and Abel Cedillo, Defunded's regular jockey, aboard Baffert-trained High connection Baffert named Edwin Maldonado on Defunded.
“I think he’s a really good rider and he rides my horses really well,” Baffert said. “He rides them with confidence. I love putting him on quick horses. He's so velvety right from the start. From then on, the horses just outrun him.”
Snail-paced down, Andy A California-raised three-year-old who had a turf victory in the Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby (G2T), he stumbled badly early but got back into the race for jockey Mario Gutierrez. He approached Defunded from the back, but Defunded kept him at bay. In the second corner Andy bravely ran at him again, an attempt that ultimately proved futile.
Defunded stuck to his task throughout, extending his lead to 1 3/4 lengths for most of the race in 1:49.38. Country Grammer took second place by half a lead over Snail-paced Down Andy. It was another 4 1/2 lengths until Express Train was in fourth place.
“Bob told me I had a great shot in that race, so I put him in the lead,” Maldonado said. “And if Bob says you have a chance, then you have a chance.”
Baffert noted that Country Grammer “didn't have the punch he normally has today – he might be getting a little tired.”
Baffert is training Defunded for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, all of whom led owners at the recent meeting in Del Mar, although Defunded did not contribute to the cause. The Awesome Again was Defunded's first stakes win. He finished second in this year's Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), as well as the 2021 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) and the Affirmed Stakes (G3).
At Del Mar, Defunded placed seventh in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and sixth in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2).
“He just couldn’t handle the paddock down there,” Baffert said. “He had a complete nervous breakdown.”
Pegram, Watson and Weitman purchased “Defunded in the name of Three Amigos” from Eaton Sales for $210,000 at the Keeneland yearling auction in September 2019. Athens Woods sired the son of Dialed in –Wind caper from Touch gold in Kentucky.
The Del Mar meeting wasn't the first time Defunded proved a challenge.
“He’s one we had to poop early on because he was tough,” Baffert said.
The question arose as to whether Defunded would want that Keeneland, where this year's Breeders' Cup takes place.
“We don’t know yet,” Baffert admitted. “We know it’s a win and you’re there. We’ll think about it and,” – Baffert smiled and added – “look at the competition. I don't know if he's mentally capable of handling this Keeneland paddock.” I'm not sure. For now we'll just enjoy this win.
Accelerate in 2018 is the last horse to win the Awesome Again and the Breeders' Cup Classic. John Sadler, Flightline's trainer, trained Accelerate, who was voted senior dirt men's champion this season. Baffert has won the Classic four times – with 3-year-olds Bavaria in 2014, 3 years elderly American Pharaoh in 2015, 4 years elderly Arrogant in 2016 and 3 years elderly True in 2020. None of them participated in Awesome Again. However, Baffert won the Awesome Again (or Goodwood) and then finished second in the Classic Medina spirit in 2021, Unlikely in 2020, Play on age in 2011 and Silver pendant in 1998.
