12/26 (SA): Sir Beaufort (Gr. III); Malibu (Gr. I)
 

6TH (2:47) California Breeders' Champion S.

7 Furlongs (All Weather Track) | Open | 2 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $125,000

1 Star Redeemer Prado E S 115 L
2 Feisty Suances Flores D R 117 L
3 Mensa Heat Nakatani C S 115 L
4 Unbridled Roman Smith M E 117 L
5 Jack Flash Garcia M 117 L
6 Lordgivemealift Baze M C 119 L
7 The Bat Signal Espinoza V 115 L
8 Dontmesroundwitjim Enriquez I D 115 L
9 Beauteous Maximus Gomez G K 117 L
10 Atticus Jack Gryder A T 115 L
11 Danny Q Rosario J 117 L
12 All Saint Bejarano R 117 L



7TH (3:20) Sir Beaufort S. (G3)

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Liberian Freighter Flores D R 118 L
2 Sky Cape Rosario J 122 L
3 Dakota Phone Valdivia J Jr 120 L
4 Fifteen Love Prado E S 122 L
5 Medjool Garcia M 118 L
6 Icemancometh (IRE) Smith M E 118 L
7 Young Joe Talamo J 118 Blk-On L
8 Ten Meropa Blanc B 118 L
9 El Gato Malo Bejarano R 118 L
10 Ghetto (GB) Baze M C 118 L
11 Pistol Pete Afleet Gryder A T 118 L
12 Gio Ponti Gomez G K 122 L
13 Il Girasole Espinoza V 118 L



8TH (3:52) Malibu S. (G1)

7 Furlongs (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $250,000

1 Into Mischief Espinoza V 119 L
2 Colonel John Gomez G K 123 L
3 Bob Black Jack Flores D R 119 L
4 Golden Spikes Rosario J 123
5 Nownownow Talamo J 115 L
6 Guns On the Table Bejarano R 117 L
7 Georgie Boy Prado E S 119 L

Gayego is a 'no'. He was sold to the 15k claimer AC Avila (Deepest pockets ever) and Avila is trying to flip him to Dubai

http://www.drf.com/news/article/100628.html

those are the good ones
any outsiders?

Ah, it looks like Georgie Boy might be in there. We get to wave farewell to Into Mischief before he goes to Spendthrift to stand for $12,500. Is anyone else in the possible/probable group signing off after the race?

Whatever happened to Crown of Thorns from last year's west coat derby hopefuls? I know he was injured, but did he get retired?
He looked promising.

Great question, completely forgot about that horse

"Triple Crown hopeful Crown of Thorns, winner of the Feb. ... II), is preparing
for a return to the races and could start in the Malibu Stakes (gr. ... " From the Blood-Horse.

Sunshine Millions will prolly be his first race back if he is ready.

Once Again the field for the Malibu does not dissapoint me. This is one of my favorite races of the year.

The Malibu only good leg left of the Strub Series
 

This certainly looks like a great Malibu this year. The Malibu is probably the only race in the Strub Series that still maintains it stature. The Strub Series consist of three races restricted to 4YOs and used to feature the cream of the 3YO crop of the prior year. Of course the Malibu's cast will consist of 3YOs since it is now run as the opening day feature at SA. The series then continues with the San Fernando Stakes at 1 1/16 in mid January then the Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 on the first Saturday in February.

This used to be a very special series every winter at SA. The San Fernando and the Strub have lost much of their lustre since SA was sold to Frank Stronach. MEC's creation of the Sunshine Millions has really changed the SoCal racing calendar. This year it takes place on Jan 24, right between the second and third legs of the Strub Series. That is probably the biggest issue I have with the Stronach's MEC. Seems like every year the San Fernando and Strub lose key players as owners and trainers focus CA and FL breds on a more lucrative target on the racing schedule. The fields of this very unique series are no longer as deep or talented as before the creation of the Millions.

Santa Anita Park - December 26th, 2008 - Race 8
Malibu S. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 3:52 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Three Year Old
Purse: $250,000
Distance: Seven Furlongs
Surface: All Weather Track
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Into Mischief (KY) 3 Colt 119 Victor Espinoza
2 Colonel John (KY) 3 Colt 123 Garrett K. Gomez
3 Bob Black Jack (CA) 3 Colt 119 David Romero Flores
4 Golden Spikes (KY) 3 Colt 123 Joel Rosario
5 Nownownow (KY) 3 Colt 115 Joseph Talamo
6 Guns On the Table (KY) 3 Colt 117 Rafael Bejarano
7 Georgie Boy (CA) 3 Gelding 119 Edgar S. Prado

I was just thinking that 7 furlongs against top-class horses is exactly what Nownownow needs.

I will go with BBJ. He will be a much better sprinter than anything.

His last was super bad though and its not like it was a very good Underwood this year.

Georgie Boy -Prado...Fits him great. Mischief is nice, but hate the 1 hole. Mandella is tough off a long rest like he had. With the 2 months rest, I don't think he is quite as tough. He can win it, but I think Georgi will take him late. I do think they will get to Blackjack in the stretch. He hasn't won a graded race(cuz he has only won CAL bred n' CAL/FLO bred races.) I expect to see the old mother hen trainer in the winners circle, but we'll see what happens. Pretty cool race.

Mystification to win the last. That's a pretty nice trying horse (for a maiden claimer.)

Saying that his last was SUPER BAD is a hyperbole. He only lost by a length and a half in that race. He is an absolute need the lead type as evident from his three wins. He likes SA (I know the surface has changed since) but he did set a record in the Sunshines Dash last year going 6F 1:06 and two fiths.
Plus he has done better damage second off layoff.

On Paper, he is the speed and others will sit right behind him. If he hooks with a duel or trio then Into Mischief wins for fun.

I'm taking a big look at Col. John. I don't think that the speed will need some class to win this one.

He could not even get the lead against Wirefortwenty when the pace was well below grade 1 level, that would never have happened this spring which to me says this horse is not right. He should get a clear lead but he does not have the ability to run these horses off their feet, especially if this track plays like October....and at 9/2 he is a horrible play.

Underwood: 21 4/5, 44 flat, 55 4/5, 1:07 4/5 is well below G1 pace?????
He just ran his first race after 6 months on the shelf and now second off he should run better. Guns on the Table will also run a huge race. His last race he held his own after a heated pace and hung in thier. If he settles second behind BBJ he can take it if BBJ decides not to run.

The Bet:

$50 WP on Guns on the Table

BBJ and GOTT included in Pick 3, Pick 4 bets.

Bob Black Jack looks like a horse that might have had a successful 3 year old season if the connections did not catch Derby Fever. They did the right thing by easing back off the horse and letting him recover from the Derby.

The Underwood was a prep and looking at the charts I see he made a move to get within a length of the lead. I think conditioning set in and he flattened out and held on well to finish with two of the winner.

The connections have been pointing to this race. The works since the Underwood look pretty good. He looks like lone speed. He should offer value on the toteboard.

Of course we'll have to see how the track is playing. I'm on the east coast and I've been looking at weather forecasts which had it raiining on Wednesday and calling for rain on Thursday. Nonetheless I'm expecting a decent race out of Black Jack Bob believe he will win the Malibu.