When Rahys’ Appeal (Rahy) roared to the front in the stretch drive of
Friday’s $150,000
Top
Flight H. (G2) at Aqueduct, it looked for all the world as though the
longest shot on the board at 23-1 had engineered a massive upset. Not long after
she crossed the wire three lengths ahead of MALIBU MINT (Malibu Moon), however,
the inquiry sign flashed. At the same time, Malibu Mint’s jockey Eibar Coa
lodged a claim of foul against Alan Garcia aboard Rahys’ Appeal, alleging
interference in the stretch. With the videotape showing that Garcia
inadvertently hit Malibu Mint with his whip as his mount surged past, the
stewards disqualified Rahys’ Appeal to second and awarded the victory to Malibu
Mint. The final time for the fast-track mile was 1:36.
“Those are the rules,” Coa observed. “It is very unfortunate for him (Garcia) and fortunate for me. I was very lucky. His horse was going by me.”
“The horse (Malibu Mint) came out into my whip,” Garcia said.
“This isn’t the way I like to win them,” Malibu Mint’s trainer James Chapman
said.
Malibu Mint closely stalked the early pace dictated by Yolanda B. Too (Two
Punch) through fractions of :23 2/5 and :46 2/5. Coa then sent Malibu Mint, and
she took command from the early leader while getting six furlongs in 1:11. In
the stretch, Malibu Mint was collared by Rahys’ Appeal, and after visibly
flinching when struck by her rival’s whip, had no further response. Malibu Mint
crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), who was
trailed by Yolanda B. Too, Carmandia (Wild Rush) and even-money favorite Mo
Cuishle (Saint Ballado). Classy Charm (Silver Charm), No Reason (Precise End)
and Notimetoquit (Toolighttoquit) were withdrawn.
Dispatched as the 4-1 third choice in the six-horse field, Malibu Mint
returned $10.20, $4.90 and $4. Rahys’ Appeal yielded a healthy $13 and $7 while
ending the $159 exacta. Miss Shop gave back $5.40 to show at odds of 10-1,
rounding out the $881 trifecta (3-8-4).
John and Martha Jane Mulholland’s Malibu Mint was recording her fifth stakes
victory, following scores in the Princess Rooney H. (G1), Thoroughbred Club of
America S. (G3) and Weekend Delight S. this season as well as the 2005 Chaposa
Springs H. The four-year-old chestnut has also placed in the 2006 Honorable Miss
H. (G2) and Winning Colors S. In her latest outing, she wound up 12th in the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Malibu Mint has now amassed $780,829 in earnings from
her 24-8-4-1 line.
Bred in Kentucky by B. Wayne Hughes, Malibu Mint was a $15,000 yearling
purchase at the 2003 Keeneland September sale. She was produced by the
stakes-winning Key to the Mint mare Ivory Mint, making her a half-sister to an
unnamed yearling colt by No Armistice and a weanling filly by Runaway Groom.
Chapman indicated that his charge could run at Calder next.