On a busy training session at Santa Anita Park the morning of Dec. 22, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan was clocked going three furlongs in :37 4/5 ahead of his much-anticipated start in the Malibu Stakes (G1) Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita's 90th anniversary season.
Mystik Dan, who hit the track at about 7:45 a.m. PT, was backed up to the seven-eighths pole before breaking into a gallop. He sped things up near the quarter pole, where he found company from a pair of horses to his inside, then continued to accelerate through the lane.
Mystik Dan, who hasn't started since June when finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the seven-furlong Malibu. He will break from post six under Brian Hernandez Jr. in a field of eight 3-year-olds.
Also working for the Malibu was Raging Torrent for Doug O'Neill. Installed at 9-2 on the morning line, Raging Torrent worked four furlongs in :48 1/5.
Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Straight No Chaser returned to the work tab with a three-furlong move in :35 4/5. It was the second-fastest of 25 works at the distance. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser won the Breeders' Cup Sprint by a half length Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Working for trainer Bob Baffert was promising 2-year-old colt Barnes, a debut winner at Churchill Downs Nov. 27. The son of Into Mischief worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12 4/5.
