Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Eclipse Award candidate
Johannes and $5 million earner White Abarrio provide the crescendo this week to
the 2024 racing season.

After six months off, Mystik Dan races in the Grade 1,
$300,000 Malibu Stakes, the christening feature Thursday for Santa Anita’s
90th-anniversary winter-spring season. On the same card Johannes tries for his
fifth graded triumph of the year when he starts on the turf in the San Gabriel
(G2).

Three-time Grade 1 victor White Abarrio is entered in the
Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, the same day as the Joe
Hernández (G2) at Santa Anita will be the last U.S. graded stakes run in 2024.

Between the flagship Stronach tracks on each coast, nine
graded stakes are on the horizon this week.

Thursday

Malibu (G1), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds

After a 1,900-mile trailer trip from Louisiana last week, Mystik Dan makes his first start since June,
when he finished eighth for trainer Kenny McPeek in the Belmont Stakes. He will try to land his second
Grade 1 victory this year, joining rival 3-year-old males Dornoch, Fierceness,
Seize the Grey and Sierra Leone. Stronghold and Imagination, two local colts
who finished one-two in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), will challenge Mystik Dan.
All three are cutting back from two-turn routes in their last starts.

La Brea (G1), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

Hope Road was a maiden when she was moved from John Sadler
to trainer Bob Baffert. She has not lost since, going 4-for-4 this year
including a pair of Grade 3 victories at Del Mar. Her stablemate Kinza as well
as Kopion, One Magic Philly, Sugar Fish and Tamara are graded-stakes winners
who will challenge Hope Road. So will undefeated fillies Cavalieri, who also
comes from Baffert’s barn, and Sandy Bottom. Late-blooming stakes debutante
Accuracy broke her maiden by 15 lengths two starts back, earning a 107 Beyer
Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

American Oaks (G1), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles, downhill
turf, 3-year-old fillies

Two-time Grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty has made herself at
home in John Sadler’s Santa Anita barn since trainer Cherie DeVaux had her
flown west from Kentucky nearly two weeks ago. The question is whether she
brought her dominant form. In her most recent assignment two months ago, the
Karakontie filly ran away by six lengths in the 1 1/8-mile Queen Elizabeth II
Cup (G1). A top-two result Thursday would make She Feels Pretty a millionaire
for owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson.

San Gabriel (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles, turf,
3-year-olds and up

Because of sore legs, Johannes got an 11-month break before he
made his 4-year-old debut in April. Four wins and a close second later, he may
be the champion turf male of 2024. Bred and owned by Joe and Debby McCloskey
and trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes stayed home in Southern California to
string together victories in the American (G3), Shoemaker Mile (G1), Eddie Read
(G2) and City of Hope Mile (G2). The Nyquist colt came charging late in the
Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, coming up just three-quarters of a length short
of catching More Than Looks.

Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles,
3-year-olds and up

First, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano got hurt.
Then Skinner, who won last month’s Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar, was
transferred from John Shirreffs to DeVaux with plans for this winter at Fair
Grounds. Express Train is the biggest name left in this race that used to be
the San Antonio, but he has not won in his five starts since the 2022 Santa
Anita Handicap (G1). Tarantino, a $40,000 claim this summer, was a surprisingly
close second to Skinner in the Native Diver.

Mathis Mile (G2), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds

Stay Hot cannot shake Atitlan. This will be the fifth time
in a row they have started against each other with Stay Hot holding a 3-1
advantage in their head-to-head rivalry. They are trying to improve from their
off-the-board finish Nov. 30 in the 1 1/8-mile Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar.
King of Gosford got the best of both of them, placing second that day. Since he
was moved to Phil D’Amato’s barn from Ireland last winter, he has won three
stakes and finished in the money in two graded races.

Friday

Robert J. Frankel (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles, turf,
fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Deep-closing Hang the Moon was not suited for the slow pace
in the 1 3/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, where she
finished last. A cutback in distance and class could be just what trainer Phil
D’Amato ordered for this 4-year-old daughter of the late Uncle Mo. Hang the
Moon came off a 10-month break and a barn switch to start the year with three
wins and a second. Her best scores came in the 1 1/8-mile John C. Mabee (G2) at
Del Mar and the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive (G2) at Santa Anita.

Saturday

Mr. Prospector (G3), Gulfstream Park, 7 furlongs,
3-year-olds and up

Xxx.

Joe Hernández (G2), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, hillside
turf, 3-year-olds and up

Xxx.