Photo:

Santa Anita / Benoit Photo

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Raging Torrent tracked pacesetter Pilot Commander, took over at the top of the stretch and sped to the wire to bag the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes, the seven-furlong feature for 3-year-olds Thursday at Santa Anita.

It was the second graded-stakes win this year for Raging Malibu, who most recently finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. This summer Raging Torrent won the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2), also going seven furlongs, at Del Mar.

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Raging Torrent, bet down to the 5-2 favorite provided trainer Doug O’Neill with his first-ever win in the traditional opening-day feature.

“Doug told me my horse was in good shape. We had a perfect distance, a good post, and he was right,” Dettori said. “He was very tough today.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan never was a factor making his first start in more than six months. The Goldencents colt was near the back of the pack throughout and finished last in a field that was reduced to six following the scratches of Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato and Senior Officer.

“He broke good, but it just seemed like we were always chasing,” said Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan’s rider. “I think shortening up took away from him. After running a mile-and-a-quarter, it is tough to go back to seven-eighths. The horse is fine.”

Raging Torrent won by 1 1/4 lengths with a time of 1:21.54 chasing early fractions of 22.19, 44.29 and 1:08.66. He was followed by Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold (9-2) and Imagination (4-1) with pacesetter Pilot Commander (7-2) holding on to complete the superfecta. Winterfell finished fifth ahead of Mystik Dan.

Joel Rosario on Imagination and Juan Hernández on Pilot Commander bumped into one another in the final furlong, prompting a post-race inquiry. The three stewards unanimously decided that the contact they made with one another did not affect the order of finish.

Raging Torrent paid $7.20, $4.00 and $2.80; Stronghold $4.40 and $3.20; and Imagination $3.20.

By Maximus Mischief, Raging Torrent improved to 12: 5-1-2 with $667,400 in earnings for owners Mark Davis and Great Friends Stables.

“You know, the horse was doing so well and threw such a great pose,” O’Neill said. “We knew this is a perfect distance, so we were so optimistic. But in this sport, a lot of times you’re optimistic, and you go home with a flat balloon, … but he ran a race that we had dreamed of and just so happy and proud.”