Saturday’s horse racing program at Santa Anita is the first-ever California Crown event. A number of stakes races are featured prominently throughout the card, including the main event, the Grade 1 California Crown Stakes.
Sports betting offers are not available this state.
Previously known as the Awesome Again and Goodwood, the California Crown has seen its purse boosted to $1 million. Some of the west coast’s top horses are contesting the race, which serves as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup. It also presents a fascinating day of horse racing betting for fans, too!
More on the California Crown field
Trainer Bob Baffert saddles three of the race’s seven runners, including the top two betting choices.
#3 NATIONAL TREASURE is the 8/5 morning line favorite. He’s won two Grade 1 races this year, and a win here makes him a leading contender for Horse of the Year honors going into the sport’s year-end championship event. His two big wins came in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and the Met Mile at Saratoga.
Most recently, though, he was a distant sixth in the Whitney as the 4/5 betting favorite. In addition, while he’s run well at Santa Anita in the past, he’s yet to win here in five local starts.
Baffert’s other major contender in the California Crown is #5 MUTH, the 2-1 second choice. He’s a 3-year-old going against older horses for the first time, but he’s won a pair of Grade 1 races. He recently returned from a layoff to win the Shared Belief at Del Mar, and that race’s runner-up, #7 INDISPENSABLE, shows up here, too.
The California Crown is the ninth of 10 races on Saturday’s card. Post time for the main event is 4:43 pm Pacific time.
California Crown analysis and selections
I don’t see a scenario where National Treasure rates again. He needs to be on or near the lead, so I’m throwing out the Whitney. I think he’s the speed of the speed, and that he’ll get very comfortable in the California Crown.
Muth wouldn’t shock me, either, but it’s not often a 3-year-old can top older horses in one’s first try at the level. The price I’ll offer exacta and trifecta players is #4 KATONAH, who’s 15-1 on the morning line. I think his race in the Pacific Classic was a throwout given the heavy speed bias that track had for most of its summer meet. He’s a closer who’s shown he can make up ground, and a repeat of his two-back effort would give him a chance at a piece of this at a big price.
Top three selections
- 1st: #3 National Treasure
- 2nd: #5 Muth
- 3rd: #4 Katonah
