The Malibu Stakes opens Santa Anita on December 26 and there may not be a better post-Christmas present for horseracing fans. Along with the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, Santa Anita will also offer the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes. Both events go at 7 furlongs with purses of $300,000. A total of $180,000 will be guaranteed to the winners.
If you have not had the pleasure to be in the city of Malibu you are missing something. There is affluence, there is 21 miles of beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline and there are surfers and bikinis by the truck load but there is no Malibu Stakes to devour.
This race traditionally has lured some of the best horses that competed in the Breeders’ Cup and it was inaugurated in 1952. Racing legends like Round Table, Native Diver, Damascus and Shared Belief have won this race.
I was fortunate enough to drive out to Santa Anita and watch the Malibu Stakes in 1980. That year Spectacular Bid, called by his trainer Buddy Delp the greatest horse ever to look through a bridle, took on Flying Paster. The problem for Flying Paster was that when Spectacular Bid looked him in the eye, the inferior runner just backed down and wanted no part of the fight. Spectacular Bid set a stakes record that day that stood for 30 years.
Bob Baffert has been the winning trainer in the Malibu Stakes in 2011 and in 2013 and he has three candidates that carry his hopes this season.
Let’s start with his runners. Ten Blessings has not raced since early in November but since he won his racing debut, he has a shot to fire fresh. He won at this demanding distance in his November race posting a clever 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
Jazzy Times could very well be the speed component of the Baffert runners. The son of Discreetly Mine has repeatedly flashed sub :22 speed and he was Grade 1 placed in October.
Mor Spirit has earned more money than any Malibu Stakes starter this season. He has not raced since being hung out to dry from post 17 in the Kentucky Derby. The $650,000 purchase has worked the proverbial hole in the wind accentuated by a best of the morning :46 1/6 drill on December 21. There seems to be enough speed in here to help the cause and this runner will be a serious late threat.
Mind Your Biscuits figures to be a late factor as he closed stoutly to run third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Semper Fortis has never won at Santa Anita and although that fact is a major obstacle the racer did run second in the $100,000 Zia Park Derby in his last race.
Who’s Out is still trying to repay his $350,000 purchase price and he has not won since beating a softer group in June. Sharp Azteca just won a $100,000 stakes going wire-to-wire at Laurel and although he has speed, he is facing Western velocity this time. Awesome Banner has won 6 times, twice at 7 furlongs.
Horse Greedy has the stalking duties in the Malibu Stakes. He is drawn right on the outside and his rider does not have to gun at all costs early on but this is a major step up for him.
The La Brea, for 3-year-old fillies, has drawn a speedy group.
Lunar Express has the zip to flee the fence but would expect her to get more of a stalking journey this time. She is far too sharp not to take seriously.
Lightstream won her racing debut and that gives her a shot to fire off this vacation. She is a specialist at this demanding distance and trainer Brian Lynch thought enough of her to ship 3,000 miles to test these waters.
Finley’sluckycharm is another interloper and another valid contender. Her only poor effort came at the wrong distance when fried in a duel.
Wonder if trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had this race in mind all the time for Constellation and just let miss stretch her legs in the recent Phoenix win? The trainer won this race in 2014 with Sam’s Sister.
Coniah at least has a recent local drill but she may have to kick from off the pace this time and then luck will come into play.
Chao Chom has been expertly handled. Her work out on Tuesday suggests she is feeling pretty good about herself and she looms another factor in a solid 8-pack.
Enola Gay tries to make amends for a flop as the betting chalk. She has been put through her motions since the last race by trainer Phil D’Amato, who was the leading trainer at this meet last year.
Perfect Pic has been given time since the Graded debut and the way she won at first asking suggests she could be dangerous. The concern is the experience she is conceding. She did show she can pass horses in her Los Alamitos effort but the feeling is this miss may need slightly softer to show top talent.
Mor Spirit gets the call in the Malibu. He seems to have a class edge and will be picking them up and laying them down in the stretch. Constellation can take her place among the stars in the La Brea. Her tactical speed will give her first run on the deep closers.
Good luck.
