Once 4-5 favorite Saudi Crown couldn’t make the lead in Saturday’s $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2), the handwriting was on the wall for an upset at Meydan.

On a stakes-packed Sunday afternoon at Santa Anita, Newgate capped off a big day for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, battling gamely to win the $400,000 Santa Anita H. (G1).

Michael Lund Petersen’s Adare Manor appeared to have a straightforward task on paper in Sunday’s Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita, and the 1-10 favorite ensured that there would be no suspense.

The Pacific Classic (G1) may have been the feature race on Saturday’s action-packed card at Del Mar, but the seaside oval hosted four other graded stakes for good measure.

When 7-10 favorite Defunded left the gate not just slowly in Sunday’s Native Diver (G3), but awkwardly with a sideways hop, backers might have felt that their wallets would be defunded.

Country Grammer was the favorite in Saturday’s Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita, but the “other Baffert” angle came to the fore when Defunded pocketed the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) “Win and You’re In.”

Successful title defenses were the theme at Santa Anita on Saturday. Merneith rebuffed Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) heroine Ce Ce to retain her crown in the Santa Monica (G2), and Express Train likewise scored a repeat in the San Pasqual (G2).