The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes is an annual spotlight of Santa Anita Park’s opening-day card for its winter-spring (Basic) meet. A race with a wealthy custom, the seven-furlong Malibu has been gained by horses that ultimately excelled at sprinting comparable to Precisionist and Runhappy and in addition people who grew to become elite classic-distance runners comparable to Spectacular Bid, Ferdinand, Shared Perception, and just lately, Flightline.
For the reason that mid-Eighties, the Malibu has been held in late December and restricted to 3-year-olds, and this 12 months’s renewal drew a aggressive discipline highlighted by 2024 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve winner Mystik Dan, who ships in from the Bluegrass state for his first begin in practically seven months.
1. Bentornato (3-1 morning-line odds): Florida-bred has by no means completed out of the cash in 9 profession begins and outran his 28-1 odds by a considerable margin when shedding the six-furlong Cygames Breeders’ Cup Dash by a half-length final out. Luis Saez was aboard in that race and flies in from the East Coast to journey within the Malibu. Count on him to be aggressive from the gate and try to safe the lead. A blazing early tempo plus the additional furlong of the Malibu at seven furlongs might show to be the undoing of this dash specialist.
JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Jose D’Angelo
2. Pilot Commander (6-1): Flippantly raced son of Justify is one among three Bob Baffert-trained entrants within the Malibu and is available in off of a 2 ¾-length win in a six-furlong allowance elective claimer on this monitor again in October. He gained from a pace-pressing spot and Juan Hernandez, who was within the irons that day, retains the mount and will attempt for the same journey. Nonetheless has upside and if he takes one other step, he is usually a think about profession begin quantity 4.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Winterfell (15-1): The second Baffert trainee within the discipline confirmed little in his first 5 begins in California again in spring and early summer season however then blossomed and simply gained three straight begins at distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles when shipped to the Mid-Atlantic circuit to coach Brittany Russell. Now he’s again with Baffert however one suspects the extent of competitors he confronted at Parx Racing and Laurel Park was fairly a bit softer than this discipline.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
4. Senior Officer (5-1): Ships in from Kentucky off solely two profession begins for coach Brad Cox, each of them at Churchill Downs going through massive fields. He gained a six-furlong maiden race impressively in September after which completed a great second in a 6 ½-furlong allowance elective claimer in late October. One other one with loads of upside, however might want to enhance considerably to drag the upset. His closing operating fashion isn’t precisely suited to this monitor floor.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox
5. Creativeness (12-1): Baffert’s third Malibu starter has competed properly when racing in California, and has posted a 3rd and a second in a pair of routes since getting back from a fruitless two-race journey east final summer season. Ought to press the tempo beneath first-time rider Joel Rosario and positively can hit the board, though his greatest type seems to be a minimize under a number of others within the discipline.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
6. Mystik Dan (5-2): The Kentucky Derby winner makes his much-anticipated return since ending a non-threatening eighth within the Belmont Stakes in June, which adopted a runner-up end within the Preakness Stakes and earlier than that, his upset Derby win by a nostril. Has been coaching properly for his comeback in Kentucky and has a giant probability to win if he can fireplace contemporary as he truly may very well be greatest fitted to races within the seven-furlong to 1 1/16-mile vary. Will in all probability be overbet, although.
JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek
7. Stronghold (8-1): Winner of the 2024 Santa Anita Derby has not been seen since ending second by 3 ¾ lengths to Seize the Gray within the Pennsylvania Derby in September. Has been coaching properly at his Santa Anita base since then and ought to be operating late from off the tempo with common rider Antonio Fresu aboard. May have an excessive amount of work to do, nonetheless, and primarily based on his report he prefers longer distances.
JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato
8. Raging Torrent (9-2): Speedster has stepped up his sport in 4 begins since a quick two-race stint on turf, successful twice at Churchill Downs together with a stakes after which taking the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes by a neck over California Star The Chosen Vron again in late August. He then drained to complete seventh within the Breeders’ Cup Dash and seeks to rebound within the Malibu beneath first-time jockey Frankie Dettori. Search for Dettori to induce him out of the gate from the surface submit and be part of Bentornato from the rail in a duel for the early lead.
JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill
THE PICK: Mystik Dan
LIVE LONGSHOT: Pilot Commander
SUPERFECTA: 6-2-1-7
