Santa Anita Race 10
6 - Mubtaahij
Arrogate and Gun Runner are not here today and that's good news for Mubtaahij. The 5-year-old graded stakes winner enters the Awesome Again after finishing fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March and luckily gets a chance to escape those champion runners in this event. There is class in this Grade I but not enough to match the competition faced by the Irish bred that has also included American Pharoah and California Chrome. Mubtaahij should enjoy the class relief and being the fresh face in the field for trainer Bob Baffert. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke has also held a hot hand of late in these key races. Mubtaahij looks like he can handle this field based on his class and solid speed figures already produced against some of the best horses in the world. Look for Baffert to return to the Winner's Circle with Mubtaahij on Saturday.