O'Neill Savors First Malibu Win With Raging Torrent

Entering this year's winter/spring meet at Santa Anita Park, Doug O'Neill ranked third all-time in wins at the track with 1,198 and was tied for eighth in stakes wins with 118. He also has won the trainer's title nine times at Santa Anita. Despite that abundance of success over three-plus decades, one of Santa Anita's marquee races had eluded the 56-year-old conditioner: the Malibu Stakes (G1). That all changed Dec. 26 when Raging Torrent prevailed in the 77th edition of the sprint for 3-year-olds. Raging Torrent won the Malibu on opening day two races after J B Strikes Back, also trained by O'Neill, took down the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2). Raging Torrent kicked clear in the Malibu and won by 1 1/4 lengths under Frankie Dettori, the international riding star who also won his first Malibu. "It was such a special day and the Malibu is such a special race. When you see the Kentucky Derby winner come out for it," O'Neill said Dec. 27, referring to Malibu rival Mystik Dan, who ran last of six. "It just shows you how important the race is. It's really an honor." O'Neill reported both Raging Torrent and J B Strikes Back were doing well the morning after their races. Raging Torrent earned his second graded win in the Malibu. This summer at Del Mar, he won the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2), also going seven furlongs, before a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). The son of Maximus Mischief is now 5-1-2 from 12 starts with $667,400 in earnings for owners Mark Davis and Great Friends Stables. O'Neill said the major target for Raging Torrent in the first half of 2025 is a try in the Godolphin Mile (G2) April 5 on the Dubai World Cup (G1) undercard in the Middle East. Whether he starts between now and then remains to be determined. "I'll talk with Mark Davis and we'll put our heads together, but the goal is the Godolphin Mile," O'Neill said. "If something comes up in early February around one turn we like, we could go there first." The next graded stakes for older horses sprinting on dirt at Santa Anita is the Feb. 15 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3). Meanwhile, the Kenny McPeek-trained Mystik Dan is soon headed back to the Midwest. The Goldencents colt, who was bright and alert taking in the sights during training hours Friday, is slated to depart Dec. 29 for Oaklawn Park, according to McPeek Racing director of operations Greg Morehead. As for J B Strikes Back, owned by Janie Buss' Purple Rein Racing, he earned his first stakes win when upsetting the Pincay Jr. at 16-1 under Antonio Fresu. The race was J B Strikes Back third win in a row since rejoining the O'Neill barn after the trainer and owner reclaimed him after losing him for a start.. "It's amazing his improvement this year," O'Neill said. "He's just a gutty, hard-trying horse. He's been a real pleasant surprise." O'Neill said his major goal now is the March 1 Santa Anita Handicap (G1). "He could run again before that, or we'll train him up. We're in no hurry," O'Neill said.