Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Shippers stand out in Malibu
ARCADIA, Calif. – Racing historians someday might look back on the 2017 Malibu Stakes field and marvel at the untapped potential among the nine entrants.
Contemporary observers will offer a less flattering assessment of the Grade 1, sevenfurlong sprint for 3-year-olds, which will be run Tuesday, opening day at Santa Anita.
“I don’t think it’s that fancy of a race,” trainer John Sadler accurately stated.
Sadler starts California-bred stakes winner Edwards Going Left in a field with just two graded winners – Favorable Outcome and Pavel.
Most have a lot to prove. Irish Freedom, Dabster, and likely pacesetter City of Light are first-level allowance winners; The Street Fighter is a maiden winner; Heartwood won a stakes last out at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
However, the field does include two up-and-coming shippers expected to vie for favoritism – Favorable Outcome from New York, and C Z Rocket, an undefeated hulk from Kentucky.
Al Stall trains C Z Rocket, who was under consideration for the Malibu even before his third victory last month in a Churchill Downs allowance. C Z Rocket overcame a slow start from the rail, unleashed an early move on the backstretch, and won by two lengths.
“He showed nice acceleration,” Stall said. “We saw the turn of foot that he had been showing in the morning. It was exciting.”
Stall shipped C Z Rocket to Santa Anita on Dec. 5; the colt has since posted two sharp works over the track. Now 3 for 3, he has been stabled locally with Richard Mandella, who jokingly suggested Stall should leave C Z Rocket with him in California for a 2018 campaign.
“I had to politely decline, but we took that as a good sign,” Stall said.
After drawing the rail in his first three starts, C Z Rocket finally got a break in the Malibu. He starts from the outside, ideal for a large colt who is not quick early.
Favorable Outcome, trained by Chad Brown, arrived here Dec. 19. After missing most of the year with a bone chip following a win in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes in February at Gulfstream Park, he scored a victory with a 104 Beyer last month in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct.
“I’m optimistic this horse has circled back to where he was when he won the Swale early in the year,” Brown said, adding “he’s trained even better” since his most recent win.
KEY CONTENDERS
C Z Rocket, by City Zip Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-95
◗ He was purchased for $800,000 at a 2-year-olds in training sale in 2016, after which Stall said he “shut him down” to allow the large colt time to mature.
◗ C Z Rocket, whose rider is Jose Lezcano, has acclimated well to California. Both local works were quick – his 47.80second half-mile work on Dec. 20 was the second fastest of 35 at the distance, and he worked a bullet 47.60 on Dec. 13.
Favorable Outcome, by Flatter Last 3 Beyers: 104-94-96
◗ His last-start Beyer Figure tops the field. Eight of the last nine Malibu winners previously earned a triple-digit Beyer. Favorable Outcome, Irish Freedom, and Pavel are this year’s triple-digit earners going into the race.
◗ Javier Castellano rode Favorable Outcome to victory in the Swale. He regains the mount for the Malibu. Castellano is 0 for 16 in Santa Anita dirt sprints.
Irish Freedom, by Pioneerof the Nile Last 3 Beyers: 100-97-99
◗ Trainer Bob Baffert describes Irish Freedom as “a tweener” regarding distance. Seven furlongs “is a little short for him,” Baffert acknowledged.
◗ He shortens up after finishing third and second in route stakes, and will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith. Baffert is realistic regarding his chances. What will it take to win? Baffert replied: “A complete pace meltdown.”
Pavel, by Creative Cause Last 3 Beyers: 72-104-103
◗ Winner of a Grade 3 in September at Parx Racing and third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, Pavel finished 10th last out in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“We ran him in the BC Classic thinking that’s the kind of horse he is,” O’Neill said. “Obviously everything got squeezed a little bit this year. We gave him a breather, he’s come back and worked well. He’s acting like he’s ready to roll.”
Edwards Going Left, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 93-89-79
◗ Occasionally slow from the gate, Edwards Going Left drew post 2. Claimed for $50,000 in his career debut in February, he has won 6 of 8 for Sadler and Hronis Racing.
◗ He won the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for older statebreds last out at Del Mar. The Malibu is tougher.
“I looked for a reason not to run him,” Sadler said, “but he’s just super sharp.”
City of Light, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 85-95-95
◗ In a race short on speed, the 1-for-4 City of Light is the controlling speed.
Dabster, by Curlin Last 3 Beyers: 87-76-72
◗ Baffert believes he prefers two turns, but the Malibu’s age restriction and Grade 1 status are reasons to take a shot. He won a first-level allowance sprint over City of Light last out.