Subsanador gives Wathnan Racing their first US Grade 1 at Santa Anita in the inaugural California Crown Stakes

Wathnan Racing landed their first Grade 1 in the US on Saturday courtesy of Subsanador in the inaugural $1 million California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Richard Mandella-trained Subsanador had to battle hard for a tight victory over the Bob Baffert-trained pair National Treasure and Newgate, with a head and a nose separating the first three.

National Treasure went to the front early, while Mike Smith stalked the leader on Subsanador, with favourite Muth and longshot Katonah in close attendance. Newgate and Senor Buscador raced behind that quartet.

Subsanador moved up on the rail on the second turn and then Smith angled him outside National Treasure for the stretch drive. Newgate made ground further out in the centre of the track, setting up a three-way battle, but Subsanador got up in a photo-finish.

Mandella said: "At Monmouth [last time] he never had a straw in his path – everything went well.

"This was tight – it had him cooped up a little bit. I didn't know how he'd react and I was very proud that he kept trying. I can't give Mike enough credit for the way he rode him."

Smith was on Subsanador for the second time following their first race together in the Grade 3 Philip H Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park the time before.

"I knew my horse could handle the pocket," said Smith. "I knew National Treasure would be the speed and Muth was outside, so I had to lay back. I've got to give Richard all the credit. He's got this horse so confident, he thinks he owns the place."

The victory gives Subsanador an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, and Mandella mentioned that race and the Dirt Mile as possibilities.

Mandella has trained Subsanador since the spring. The five-year-old son of Fortify competed in his native Argentina in 2022 and 2023 and won five black-type races, three of them at Group 1 level.

Wathnan Racing, which is headed up by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, burst onto the European racing scene at Royal Ascot last summer when winning the Gold Cup with Courage Mon Ami.

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