Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan draws post 6 for Malibu
Photo:
Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire
Mystik Dan, winner of the Kentucky Derby 2024 in May, drew
post 6 and will take on seven rivals when he makes his California debut in the
Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs next
Thursday, opening day of Santa Anita’s 90th anniversary season.
After a nearly 1,900-mile trailer trek, Mystik Dan arrived at Santa Anita
on 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 eighth-place result 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 breezed eight times for his comeback effort, which
includes a bullet five-furlong move in 59.8 seconds 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 4G Racing,
Valley View Farm, Lance Gasaway and Daniel Hamby.
Among those looking to upend Mystik Dan in the Malibu are
Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner
Stronghold, Pat O’Brien (G2) winner Raging Torrent and ascending colt
Winterfell, who is back with Bob Baffert after going 3-for-3 on the East Coast
under the care of Brittany Russell.
Bentornato, trained by José D’Angelo, was beaten by just
a half-length by Straight No Chaser in the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov.
2 at Del Mar. Before that the Valiant Minister colt won the Gallant Bob (G2),
also going six furlongs, at Parx in September.
Owned by Leon King Stable, Bentornato is 9: 5-2-2 with $1,131,830 in earnings.
He will be ridden from the rail post by Luis Sáez, 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 Indiana Derby (G3) in
July and the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in September. By Ghostzapper, Stronghold
won the Santa Anita Derby in April by a neck over Imagination, who also is 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 from post 7.
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 3-for-4 at
seven furlongs.
Now 11: 4-1-2 with $487,400 in earnings for owners Great Friends Stables and
Mark Davis, Raging Torrent will have Frankie Dettori aboard for the first time.
He drew the outside post.
Winterfell failed to break his maiden in five starts this year when he was
part of Baffert’s Santa Anita stable. He subsequently was sent cross country
and promptly reeled off three consecutive wins, which includes the
seven-furlong City of Laurel on Nov. 30 at Laurel Park. The Arrogate colt
returned to Santa Anita this month.
Winterfell is 8: 3-1-1 with $147,040 in earnings for owners led by SF Racing,
Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. He will be ridden by Hall of Famer John
Velazquez for the first time, going from post 3.
The Malibu is one of six graded stakes on the opening-day
program at Santa Anita. With an approximate start time of 5:30 p.m. EST, it is
the eighth of 11 races. The first post is at 2 p.m.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Bentornato Valiant Minister |
7.09 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Pilot Commander Justify |
5.82 |
1st, SA AOC (10/05/2024-R5) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA AOC (10/05/2024-R5) |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Winterfell Arrogate |
0.00 |
1st, City of Laurel S. |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, City of Laurel S. |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Senior Officer Into Mischief |
0.00 |
2nd, CD ALW (10/30/2024-R9) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, CD ALW (10/30/2024-R9) |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Imagination Into Mischief |
6.17 |
2nd, SA AOC (10/26/2024-R6) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, SA AOC (10/26/2024-R6) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Mystik Dan Goldencents |
7.82 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Stronghold Ghostzapper |
7.51 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Raging Torrent Maximus Mischief |
7.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
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