Malibu, La Brea, and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes

2024 Malibu, La Brea, and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes

Date: 12/26/2024

The day after Christmas marks opening day for the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Conditions were typical for late December, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60’s for the 41,562 fans in attendance at the historic Arcadia oval, with the main track fast. This was the largest opening day attendance in 8 years and the largest non-weekend/holiday crowd since 1990. Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s senior vice-president and general manager said, “Our Racing Office offered an exceptional program, the owners and trainers supported it, and the horseplayers and fans strongly responded to kick off our 90th year. We are thankful to everyone who worked hard to make it a success, especially those who joined us to not only witness terrific racing but enjoy the events on track. The Southern California weather could not have been more cooperative, and this was a terrific way to start the celebration at The Great Race Place.”

Raging Torrent leads on the rail down the stretch

The traditional opening day feature is the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) for three-year-old sprinters going 7 furlongs. The race kicks off the Strub Series for newly-turning 4-year-olds, continuing with the San Fernando and the Strub Stakes during the meet. After 2 scratches, Pat O’Brien (G2) winner Raging Torrent was sent off as the 5-1 favorite in the field of 6 off his 7th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Mystik Dan, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) but unraced since 8th in the Belmont (G1), and 7-2 third choice and San Vicente (G2) winner Pilot Commander off an allowance win on October 5.

Jockey Juan Hernandez sent Pilot Commander to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.19 and 44.29 while pressed by Raging Torrent and stalked by 4-1 fourth choice Imagination. Turning for home Raging Torrent gained the lead through 3/4 in 1:08.66. Kept to task by Frankie Dettori, Raging Torrent drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Stronghold in 1:21.54. It was another 1/2 length back to Imagination third.

Also on the card: American Oaks (G1), San Gabriel Stakes (G2), and Mathis Mile (G2)

Pgm  Horse              Jockey         Win   Place  Show
 8   Raging Torrent     Dettori       7.20    4.00  2.80
 7   Stronghold         Fresu                 4.40  3.20
 5   Imagination        Rosario                     3.20

Winning Time:  1:21.54

$1 Exacta 8-7                13.30
$1 Trifecta 8-7-5            45.00
$1 Superfecta 8-7-5-2       130.40

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Raging Torrent in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said, “Doug told me my horse was in good shape, and we had perfect distance, good post and he was right. He was very tough today. Of course, I was afraid of Mystik Dan, Kentucky Derby winner but I thought the day to beat him was today, at seven eighths my horse was very sharp and he proved it.”

Right: Raging Torrent in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer Doug O’Neill said, “The horse was doing so well and threw such a great pose. We knew this is a perfect distance, so we were so optimistic. But in this sport, a lot of times you’re optimistic and you go home with a flat balloon…but he ran a race that we had dreamed of and just so happy and proud. We really thought going into it, we were the best horse, the best distance. And just watching him day in, day out, he was training out of this world. So, yeah, he ran great.”

Left: Second place finisher Stronghold in the paddock. The Phil D’Amato trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 6 seconds, and 0 thirds in 10 starts, earning $1,128,000 for owner-breeders Eric and Sharon Waller.

Right: Third place finisher Imagination in the walking ring. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 11 starts, earning $471,700 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.

Last place finisher and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the post parade. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said, “He broke good, but it just seemed like we were always chasing. I think shortening up took away from him. After running a mile and a quarter, it is tough to go back to seven-eighths. The horse is fine.”

The distaff counterpart to the Malibu is the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) presented by Don Julio for 3-year-old fillies also sprinting 7 furlongs. After 3 scratches, Chillingworth (G3) winner One Magic Philly was sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the field of 8 off her 6th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). In to challenge her included 5-2 second choice Hope Road, winner of 4 straight including the Torrey Pines (G3) and Bayakoa (G3), and 4-1 third choice Accuracy off 2 allowance wins.

Jockey Luis Saez sent 21-1 Sandy Bottom to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.17 and 44.32 while pressed by 37-1 longest shot Kopion and stalked by One Magic Philly. Turning for home Sandy Bottom tired as Kopion inherited the lead through 3/4 in 1:08.79. Kept to task by Kazushi Kimura, Kopion drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over late-running 25-1 Splendora in 1:22.08. It was another 2 lengths back to late-running 15-2 Sugar Fish third, while favorite One Magic Philly faded to finish 6th beaten 6 3/4 lengths.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Kopion in the winner’s circle. Winning trainer Richard Mandella said, “I thought about putting her in the Las Flores, but there is only one Grade 1. She has been getting better and better. I told Kaz (Kimura) that she is quick and you don’t need to rush her. He did a great job. I was shocked that she was 35-1. I had to scratch my other horse, Tamara, this morning. She had a virus and came down with a 102 temperature.”

Right: Kopion returns after the race. Winning owner Eric Gustavson said, “We are high as a kite right now. We had a bunch of friends and family come in for the race. It was such a crazy day because we had Tamara and she scratched, we got the text from Richard this morning, so we were all down. Now this, this is racing! It is great! This is such a big deal, a Grade 1 winner on the dirt for Omaha Beach, all glory to God we are over the moon.”

Left: Second place finisher Splendora in the walking ring before the race. The Bob Baffert trainee improved her record to 2 wins and 2 seconds in 4 starts, earning $138,400 for owner By Talla Racing.

Right: Third place finisher Sugar Fish returns after the race. The Jeff Mullins trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 10 starts, earning $406,040 for owners By Talla Racing or Sweetwater Stable.

Sixth place finisher and beaten favorite One Magic Philly in the walking ring. The Phil D’Amato trainee has a record of 3 wins, 1 second, and 0 thirds in 6 starts, earning $181,900 for owner-breeder John Gallegos.

Kicking off the opening day stakes sextet was the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2), formerly known as the San Antonio Stakes, featuring a field of 8 older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track in an early prep for the Santa Anita Handicap. Katonah was sent off as the 3-2 favorite off his 5th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) after finishing 4th in the California Crown (G1). In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Tarantino, 2nd in the Native Diver (G3), and 9-2 third choice Ashcroft off 2 allowance wins.

Ashcroft and 16-1 J B Strikes Back dueled for the early lead through fractions of 22.71 and 45.67 while stalked by Tarantino. On the far turn Ashcroft tired as J B Strikes Back continued to lead through 3/4 in 1:09.99. Kept to task by Antonio Fresu, J B Strikes Back drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Tarantino in 1:43.80. It was a nose back to 20-1 American Admiral while favorite Katonah failed to rally finishing 6th beaten 8 1/2 lengths.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: J B Strikes Back in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Antonio Fresu said, “My trip was great, amazing it was what we had planned. What about this training performance by Doug (O’Neill)? This horse he kept improving and now he is in graded stakes, that was amazing. This horse almost went wire to wire. I think I still had something underneath, so there is some room for improvement. I feel very excited to see where he goes next. I liked him a lot. I won on him once and he won easily. He always just did it so easily and you never knew what else was there. Today, what I was thinking was if the track was fast, to get a nice trip out in front, or be pretty close. I thought the horse had a good chance. He proved to us his ability.”

Right: J B Strikes Back returns after the race. Winning trainer Doug O’Neill said, “It’s such an honor to win this race. My mom Dixie was really good friends with Laffit Pincay Jr.’s mom and we are really good friends with his brother Alonso, so the Pincay family really means a lot to us. He still looks like he can still ride today, it’s amazing and a huge honor. Janie Buss and the whole Buss family they are so generous. She donates all of the earnings of any of her beautiful horses that make any money to different causes. This is really to her because she wanted to take a chance after his last couple of efforts. We took a chance, and it worked out perfect.”

Left: Second place finisher Tarantino in the paddock before the race. The Peter Eurton trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 7 seconds, and 4 thirds in 26 starts, earning $351,670 for owners David Bernsen and Rockingham Ranch.

Right: Third place finisher American Admiral in the walking ring. The Tim Yakteen trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 8 seconds, and 3 thirds in 24 starts, earning $328,020 for owner Donnie Crevier.

Sixth place finisher and beaten favorite Katonah. The Doug O’Neill trainee has a record of 4 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds in 16 starts, earning $361,180 for owner R3 Racing.

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