Defunded Takes Them Coast To Coast in Gold Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Caught late and forced to settle for second when racing for Sean McCarthy in last year's GI Hollywood Gold Cup, Pegram, Watson and Weitman's DEFUNDED (g, 5, Dialed In–Wind Caper, by Touch Gold) wrested command of the 2023 iteration soon after the start and led past every pole to give trainer Bob Baffert a ninth victory in the event, breaking a tie with the legendary Charlie Whittingham. Favored at 3-5, the chestnut broke well and took his five rivals along at a comfortable gallop, covering the opening four furlongs in :47.59 while being kept company by longshot Piroli (Battle of Midway). Kiss Today Goodbye () ranged up three wide turning up the backstretch and there would be no further change in the order, as the six furlongs went up in 1:11.83. Niggled along by Juan Hernandez nearing the stretch, Defunded led narrowly from a stubborn Piroli and maintained a safe margin to the wire. The winner's stablemate and 2021 Gold Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist) bobbled a bit at the break, settled and chased from fourth throughout and never offered any sort of winning bid. Sales history: $210,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. O-Watson, Pegram & Weitman; B-Athens Woods LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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