The Factor draws outside as Baffert enters four in 11-horse
Malibu
by James Scully
Monday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes is the headliner on Santa Anita’s
opening-day program and trainer Bob Baffert is responsible for four of the 11
three-year-olds in the seven-furlong event, including the likely top two betting
choices in The Factor and Smash.
Grade 1 winner The Factor is the one to beat with his best, showing an
affinity for the local dirt track with a pair of superb wins last winter, but
the gray colt must rebound from a pair of unplaced performances, including a
disappointing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile most recently. And after
drawing the rail at Churchill Downs last time, The Factor must overcome the far
outside post on Monday.
Regular rider Martin Garcia will guide the speedster.
Smash will enter on the upswing for his Hall of Fame conditioner, recording a
good-looking allowance victory on November 27 at Hollywood Park. The bay colt
was making his first start since a respectable second in his stakes debut, the
Grade 2 Carry Back at Calder on July 9, and registered an excellent 106 BRIS Speed
rating in the comebacker. Smash is eligible to keep moving forward with a
returning Rafael Bejarano.
Baffert will also send out Hoorayforhollywood and Racing Aptitude. The
well-bred Hoorayforhollywood, a son of Storm Cat out of the multiple Grade
1-winning millionaire Hollywood Story, is exiting a neck second in his stakes
debut, the November 19 Delta Mile Stakes. An impressive maiden scorer at Santa
Anita last February, the improving colt will receive a new rider in Garrett
Gomez.
After racing exclusively in Florida, Racing Aptitude was transferred to
Baffert two starts back and owner/breeder Donald Dizney reaped the rewards of
the trainer switch in the November 11 Yo Eleven Stakes, with Racing
Aptitude posting a 4 1/4-length upset at 16-1. The gelding appears to be
training splendidly since then, recording four swift workouts at Santa Anita in
a recent 17-day period, including a five-furlong bullet in :58 3/5 on Wednesday.
Mike Smith picks up the mount on the intriguing sophomore.
Steve Asmussen is also responsible for an uncoupled contingent with three
entrants in the Malibu field. Grade 1-placed Wine Police exits a narrow second
in the November 4 Jimmy V. Stakes at Churchill Downs and captured the Distorted
Humor Stakes three starts back at Saratoga. The chestnut colt owns the highest
last-race BRIS Speed rating (108) along with stablemate Rothko, who is set to
make his stakes bow off a smashing 6 1/2-length victory over optional claiming
rivals at Churchill. Rothko has won three straight starts in convincing fashion.
Light Up the Score, who has dominated maiden special weight and allowance
rivals in his last two starts, is another up-and-coming performer
making his first stakes appearance for Asmussen.
Rounding out the field is Centralintelligence, who exits a second to Smash;
Chilean invader El Pocho; and former claimers Associate and Luckarack.