Mystik Dan, winner of the 150th Kentucky Derby in May, will take on seven rivals when he makes his California debut in the Grade I, $300,000 Malibu Stakes for three-year-olds going seven furlongs on Thursday, December 26, opening day of Santa Anita Park’s 90th anniversary season.
Mystik Dan arrived at Santa Anita Wednesday night from his winter base at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. He will be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner to race at Santa Anita since California Chrome in 2015.
Mystik Dan narrowly prevailed in this year’s Kentucky Derby by a nose in what was a thrilling three-way photo finish. He then finished second in the Preakness Stakes two weeks later before an off-the-board finish in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown.
After being given the summer off, Mystik Dan returned to the work tab in late October at Keeneland. He has worked eight times for his comeback effort, which includes a bullet five-furlong move in 59.80 seconds last Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Mystik Dan will have regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons. The colt by Goldencents is 9: 3-2-1 with $4,161,360 in earnings for owners Four G Racing LLC, Valley View Farm LLC, Lance Gasaway and Daniel Hamby III.
Among those looking to upend Mystik Dan in the Malibu are Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato, GI Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold, GII Pat O’Brien winner Raging Torrent and the ascending Winterfell, who is back with Bob Baffert after going a perfect three-for-three on the East Coast under the care of Brittany Russell.
Bentornato, trained by Jose D’Angelo, was beaten just a half-length by Straight No Chaser in the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Prior to that effort, the Valiant Minister colt won the GII Gallant Bob Stakes, also going six furlongs, at Parx in September.
Owned by Leon King Stable Corp., Bentornato is 9: 5-2-2 with $1,131,830 in earnings. He will be ridden by Luis Saez, who was also aboard in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Stronghold cuts back in distance for trainer Phil D’Amato following consecutive runner-up finishes in the GIII Indiana Derby in July and the GI Pennsylvania Derby in September. By Ghostzapper, Stronghold won the Santa Anita Derby in April by a neck over Imagination, who is also entered in the Malibu.
Owned and bred by Rick and Sharon Waller, Stronghold is 9: 3-5-0 with $1,068,000 in earnings. Regular rider Antonio Fresu has the call.
Raging Torrent finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after being forwardly placed in the early going. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Raging Torrent’s win in the Pat O’Brien in August at Del Mar upped his record to three-for-four at seven furlongs.
Raging Torrent is 11: 4-1-2 with $487,400 in earnings for owners Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis. He will have Frankie Dettori aboard for the first time.
Winterfell failed to break his maiden in five starts earlier this year when part of Baffert’s Santa Anita stable. He was subsequently sent cross-country and promptly reeled off three consecutive wins, which includes the seven-furlong City of Laurel Stakes on Nov. 30 at Laurel Park. The Arrogate colt returned to Santa Anita earlier this month.
Winterfell is 8: 3-1-1 with $147,040 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride him for the first time.
THE MALIBU WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. (5:30 Eastern)
Bentornato – Luis Saez– 122
Pilot Commander – Juan Hernandez – 120
Winterfell – John Velazquez – 120
Senior Officer – Flavien Prat – 120
Imagination – Joel Rosario – 122
Mystik Dan – Brian Hernandez, Jr. – 122
Stronghold – Antonio Fresu- 122
Raging Torrent – Lanfranco Dettori – 122
The Malibu is one of six graded stakes on a blockbuster opening day program at Santa Anita. First post is at 11 a.m. PT with admission gates set to open at 9 a.m.
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