Mystik Dan Takes on the West in Malibu

Many Kentucky Derby (G1) winners get whisked off to stud, and those that do stick around rarely shorten up to seven furlongs. That makes Mystik Dan an intriguing proposition in the Malibu Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds on Santa Anita Park's opening-day card, Dec. 26. Trainer Kenny McPeek has selected the Malibu as Mystik Dan's first race since the colt finished unplaced in the June 8 Belmont Stakes (G1). It is a strategy not employed since Bob Baffert did it with Silver Charm in 1997. Silver Charm, winner of the Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) and second in the Belmont, finished second in the Malibu to Lord Grillo, launching him into a 1998 campaign that elicited six stakes victories, including the Dubai World Cup (G1). Silver Charm was based at Santa Anita, whereas Mystik Dan arrived at the track by van Dec. 18 from his winter base at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana. Before leaving, Mystik Dan worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 4/5. Mystik Dan's regular rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., will also ship in to ride the son of Goldencents from post 6 in the eight-horse field. Baffert has won the Malibu six times, tying for first in that regard with Richard Mandella, who does not have a horse in this year's edition. Baffert will try to break that tie and thwart Mystik Dan with three horses: Imagination, Pilot Commander, and Winterfell. Imagination, a $1.05 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 2022 and a son of Into Mischief, won the March 3 San Felipe Stakes (G2) and finished second by a neck in the April 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1). On a muddy track in the Preakness, he finished seventh behind Mystik Dan's second, and in three subsequent starts, he has a third in the Sept. 1 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar and a second in an Oct. 26 allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita. Joel Rosario will ride Imagination (post 5) for the first time. Pilot Commander is a promising son of Baffert-trained 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. He has started only four times, all at six to seven furlongs, and won twice with two seconds. One of those seconds came in the Jan. 6 San Vicente Stakes (G2) behind Baffert-trained Muth, winner of the Shared Belief. Juan Hernandez has been aboard in three of Pilot Commander's four starts and rides from post 2. Winterfell has returned to the Baffert barn after spending several months in the East with trainer Brittany Russell. The son of Baffert-trained Arrogate won all three of his starts for Russell, including his most recent, the seven-furlong City of Laurel Stakes Nov. 30. Baffert has named John Velazquez to ride from post 3. For sheer sprinters, Bentornato has the strongest résumé, coming off a half-length second in the six-furlong Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) behind winner Straight No Chaser. Jose D'Angelo trains the son of Valiant Minister, and Bentornato has never finished worse than third in his nine starts, seven at seven furlongs or shorter. He has won four stakes, including the six-furlong Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing. Luis Saez, who rode Bentornato in the Breeders' Cup, will again ride from the rail. Stronghold, a son of Ghostzapper trained by Phil D'Amato, won the Santa Anita Derby over Imagination and then ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He finished second in two subsequent starts, the July 6 Indiana Derby (G3) and Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby (G1), both around two turns. Antonio Fresu has piloted Stronghold since late in the colt's 2-year-old season and will ride from post 7. Raging Torrent (Frankie Dettori, post 8) also competed in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, finishing unplaced. Prior to that the son of Maximus Mischief won the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar and seven-furlong Maxfield Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Doug O'Neill. Brad Cox has entered Senior Officer (Flavien Prat, post 4). Another son of Into Mischief, Senior Officer has started only twice, winning a maiden race and running second in an allowance race. Prat has mounts in all six of Santa Anita's graded races Dec. 26. A win in any of them would put Prat ahead of Jerry Bailey for the record of most graded stakes in a year. Each has 55, Bailey setting that record in 2003.