First Group 1 win for Mubtaahij

– A new stable and new location led to a long-awaited top-level score for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Mubtaahij at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

Now under the guidance of trainer Bob Baffert, the Dubawi colt broke through for his first toplevel score in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (Group 1) with a closing drive. He finished 1.50 lengths ahead of pacesetter Midnight Storm and finished the 1800m in 1 min 51.32 sec.

It was his first win at the highest level.

It was Mubtaahij's first victory since the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (Group 2) in March 2015, when he was trained by Mike de Kock, and snapped a 10race winless streak.

"I think the blinkers kept (him) more focused today," Baffert said. "I didn't want to change too much, though. He's a classy horse. This horse - his last two works really impressed us. I just threw him in here and he has the class. He's proven."

Midnight Storm went to the lead as Mubtaahij raced in sixth, eight lengths back.

Mubtaahij advanced to fourth under jockey Drayden van Dyke through the 1200m marker, but favored Baffert stablemate Cupid also loomed in third.

"The trip was great," Van Dyke said. "I was placed where I wanted to be and didn't start asking him until late, but when I asked him, he responded."

The favorite could not sustain his bid, while Midnight Storm dug in and along with Mubtaahij came the longest shot on the board at 25-1, Win The Space, with a bid.

Mubtaahij now has a 5-4-1 record and more than $4.5 million in earnings from 18 starts. – bloodhorse.com.