Baffert, who won his eighth Awesome Again, entered four horses in the 1 1/8-mile race, which offers a Breeders’ Cup Challenge berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Awesome Again was Defunded’s first stakes win. He ran second in this year’s Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and in the 2021 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) and Affirmed Stakes (G3).
Defunded kept to his task all through the stretch, expanding what had been a length lead through most of the race to 1 3/4 lengths at the wire in 1:49.38. Country Grammer came on to grab second from Slow Down Andy by a half-length. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Express Train in fourth.
Bettors backed Country Grammer who ran second and earlier this year won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), down to 11-10 favoritism. Royal Ship and Express Train were the second and third choices, followed by Defunded at 5-1. The other four went off at double digits.