GI Malibu Stakes

It was a big day of racing, and the fans brought the energy, with 41,962 people packing the California track for the postponed opening day of Santa Anita's Classic Meet to make it the largest Sunday opener since 1999, the track announced via press release. The final fan tally was the largest since 2016, and the eighth Sunday opener in the venue's 90+ years also brought noteworthy numbers in the all-sources and on-track handles. The total all-sources mutuel handle was more than $18.2 million, marking the eighth time in the...

Goal Oriented (Not This Time) notched a Grade I feather to his 2025 cap, but also further gilded a fabulous year for his sire, as he strolled home powerfully to take the GI Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on opening day. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' burst onto the scene Apr. 6 at this venue in a maiden special that yielded next out winners, and eventual stakes horses, namely MSW Train the Trainer (Dialed In) and SP Varney (Vekoma) while Concord Bridge (Medaglia d'Oro) and Day and Age...

MGISW Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief--Violet Wave, by Violence), whose strong resume made him the leading miler on dirt in North America, is likely to be retired from racing after being diagnosed with a suspensory injury to his left foreleg according to his co-owner Craig Dado. The news was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's Steve Andersen on Saturday evening. The 4-year-old is campaigned by Dado's Great Friends Racing and Yuesheng Zhang. According to trainer Doug O'Neill Sunday, the injury occurred after the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Mile at...

GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), now in the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, was out Saturday morning to post her second workout at the Great Race Place as she continues progressing toward a racing return. Gone since finishing fourth in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes for trainer Michael McCarthy, the grey worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat after going four furlongs last Saturday Apr. 19 in :47.60. The GI Beholder Mile victress was spotted back in mid-March when she resurfaced at San Luis Rey Training Center with a three-furlong breeze as...

On Thursday at Santa Anita, one of the leading GI Kentucky Derby prospects, Journalism (Curlin), worked for the first time since he got his picture taken in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 14. Out of graded-stakes winner Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the 3-year-old colt drilled a half mile in :49.80 seconds for trainer Michael McCarthy. In pool three of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last weekend, Journalism closed at odds of 20-1 to win this year's 'Run for the Roses.' Journalism rolled to a 3 1/2-length victory under Umberto Rispoli...

A light work tab Thursday included the return of Grade I winner Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The dark bay, who was last seen winning the 2023 edition of the GI Malibu at Santa Anita, drilled three furlongs on the main track in :36.40 seconds (1/4). It was his first work since Sept. 21. Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman--the so-called 'Three Amigos'--Speed Boat Beach has four wins over seven starts and $498,000 in earnings. The Baffert trainee was a two-time...

6th-Keeneland, $130,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-12, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.16, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. GIANT MISCHIEF (c, 4, Into Mischief--Vertical Oak {MGSW, $773,095}, by Giant Oak), a returning 'TDN Rising Star' made his first start Saturday since coming third in the GI Malibu Stakes to end the year Dec. 26. Off the board only once in seven prior starts, the Brad Cox runner rebounded here off nearly the year-long layoff as the 4-5 favorite by jumping straight to the front under Tyler Gaffalione. Chased throughout by a determined but...

In a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors, Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) has been crowned the 2023 Florida-bred Horse of the Year. The result was announced Monday night at the FTBOA Awards Gala. Bred by Richard Heysek's Caperlane Farm, who was also presented with the Needles Award recognizing the Small Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year in Florida, the Bob Baffert runner also took home the awards for champion 3-year-old colt and champion male sprinter. In 2023, Speed Boat Beach won the GI Malibu S....