No matter how well Mystik Dan looked in training, handicappers didn’t really have a winning vibe for the Kentucky Derby (G1) champion in the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Thursday, opening day at Santa Anita.
They were correct as 5-2 favorite Raging Torrent took command in mid-stretch and won by 1 ¼ lengths over Stronghold. Imagination finished third, followed by Pilot Commander, Winterfell fifth, and Mystik Dan sixth and last.
Raging Torrent. Benoit Photo.
Longshots rule in Laffit Pincay, Jr. (J B Strikes Back); La Brea (Kopion)
Trainer Kenny McPeek, ever the sportsman, sent Mystik Dan by van from the Fair Grounds in New Orleans to southern California last week, and his Derby winner was cutting back in distance to 7 furlongs in his first start since running eighth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 8. It also was Mystik Dan’s first trip West.
The field was reduced to six after top contender Bentornato and Senior Officer were scratched.
“He broke good, but it just seemed like we were always chasing,” Mystik Dan’s rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. Said. “I think shortening up took away from him. After running a mile and a quarter, it is tough to go back to seven-eighths. The horse is fine.”
Raging Torrent, ridden by Frankie Dettori for the first time, somewhat redeemed his seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita last month and finished out 2024 with an impressive 6-4-1-1 record. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Raging Torrent returned $7.20 on a $2 win bet. Winning time was 1:21.54.
“The horse was doing so well and threw such a great pose,” O’Neill said. “We knew this is a perfect distance, so we were so optimistic. But in this sport, a lot of times you’re optimistic and you go home with a flat balloon … but he ran a race that we had dreamed of and just so happy and proud.”
Trainer Bob Baffert had three of the six in the field: Imagination, Pilot Commander, and Winterfell.
In the other two graded stakes races on dirt at Santa Anita …
Kopion at 36-1 upsets field in La Brea Stakes
The longest shot in the field pulled off upset as Kopion (37-1) drew away from the field in the stretch for a 2 ¾-length victory over fellow longshot Splendora (25-1) in the $300,000 La Brea (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Richard Mandella, the daughter of Omaha Beach finished out 2024 her campaign with an impressive victory over favorites One Magic Philly (sixth) and Hope Road (fourth). The field was reduced to eight after scratches of Cavalieri, Tamara, and Ultimate Authority.
Kopion, who pressed the pace set by Sandy Bottom until taking charge around the turn, returned $77.40 for a $2 win bet; Splendora paid $25.20 for second, creating a $1 exacta payout of $467.80.
Winning time for the 7 furlongs was 1:22.08.
J B Strikes Back wins at 16-1 in first Laffit Pincay Jr.
Sent off as the second longest shot in the field, J B Strikes Back took the lead after a half-mile, outdueled Tarantino in the stretch and won the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2) in the first of six graded stakes races.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, J B Strikes Back ($34.80), the 3-year-old gelding closed out his first year of racing with his fourth victory in nine starts.
J B Strikes Back was ridden by Antonio Fresu and won by 1 ¼ lengths. Winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.80 over a fast track.
The race was renamed from the San Antonio Stakes to honor the legendary Hall of Fame jockey, who won more than 9,500 races and 14 Santa Anita riding titles.
“My trip was great, amazing it was what we had planned,” Fresu said. “What about this training performance by Doug? This horse, he kept improving and now he is [a] graded stakes [winner], that was amazing. This horse almost went wire to wire. I feel very excited to see where he goes next.
Katonah, the 3-2 favorite in the field of eight, finished sixth. American Admiral at 20-1 was third.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
