Malibu

TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS

A large and talented field of 13 will travel seven panels on the main track
at Santa Anita to contest the $300,000 Malibu S. (G1), the final Grade 1 event
of 2009. We love the ultra-talented MYTHICAL POWER (Congaree) and rate him the
one to beat in this bulky field for Bob Baffert. Last seen dominating the Lone
Star Derby (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths, the bay colt earned a 100 BRIS Speed number
for his win and has prepped for this engagement since early November. And no one
gets them ready off the shelf for big races like Baffert. The budding star will
break from the five hole under Joel Rosario.

MISREMEMBERED (Candy Ride [Arg]), a two-time Grade 2 star, ran a huge second
versus his elders in the Clark H. (G2) last out at Churchill Downs and rates as
a logical player in this event. The Bob Baffert pupil has never raced on this
oval but did have success at Hollywood Park and appears capable of running on
just about anything. The chestnut ranks first in BRIS Prime Power ratings
(148.0) and should save ground on the rail before putting in his best. Victor
Espinoza will be in the irons.

We think this is the ideal distance for Grade 1 winner SQUARE EDDIE (Smart
Strike), and while we observe that his form doesn’t look superb on paper, the
colt is more than capable of running a big one when he’s right. An even sixth
last time on this main track in the competitive Ancient Title S. (G1), the
three-year-old should be plenty fit due to his having three races since October,
and he’s been second in three graded tries on this course. We’ll tab the likely
longshot for a third-place finish.

Arkansas Derby (G2) victor PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) is winless since April
and returns to his home base in hopes of finding his best form for Gary Stute. A
solid fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) earlier in the year, the Kentucky-bred
has very good tactical speed and a good post, and his talent alone should put
him in the mix with Tyler Baze aboard.

We’ve always been a fan of CORONET OF A BARON (Pure Prize), but the chestnut
has not lived up to our expectations of him to date for Eoin Harty. The
well-meant colt has earned superb 111 and 113 BRIS Late Pace numbers in his last
two and has a win over the track, so we’ll consider this the make-or-break race
for the colt. NEW BAY (Cuvee) ran his best race to date and earned a solid 96
BRIS Speed number for a fine allowance score over this strip for Richard
Mandella. The improving bay is a three-time winner at Santa Anita and put
together a strong serious of drills to get ready for this dash, but he’ll need
even better than his last to top this group. Any improvement could see the
sophomore sneak into the gimmicks, though.

Damascus S. hero SMART BID (Smart Strike) returned from a long layoff to take
his last in fine fashion for Graham Motion, but we’re not sure the colt is ready
to string a pair of races together equal to his last at this stage of his
career. We’re taking a stand against. SUPREME SUMMIT (Cactus Ridge) was a nice
second in the Damascus last out and has run a trio of fine races from four tries
over this oval. The dark bay might be a cut below the best, though. The lightly
raced HUNCH (Lion Heart) has done nothing wrong in two dominant wins for John
Sadler but gives away a lot of seasoning to his foes in this heat. The
Florida-bred colt has very good tactical speed and a punishing late run, but
this is by far the most demanding task he will have encountered in his young
career. We like the fact that Rafael Bejarano sticks with the talented
youngster, who would surprise us with a win in his third lifetime try.

The expensive KINSELLA (Mr. Greeley) is lightly raced and unproven at this
level, so while we would not be totally shocked to see him run well, we have to
let him beat us in here. JOIN IN THE DANCE (Sky Mesa) has only one career win
and has missed the board in his last pair of synthetic tries, so he’s hard to
recommend from the barn of Todd Pletcher. M ONE RIFLE (One Man Army) has
seemingly lost his early speed as of late, with rapidly declining BRIS E1 and E2
Pace figures, and the widest draw in such a solid field will likely lead to his
undoing. Grade 2-placed JERANIMO (Congaree) takes the blinkers off for this but
still has at least a few lengths to make up on the big guns in this one.