Baffert Quintet against five others in Malibu

Despite five from the dominating Bob Baffert stable, the December 28 Malibu Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds was Saint Anita has drawn a field of 10 participants. The challengers to Baffert’s quintet – responsible for the top five picks on the morning line odds – include Fast Wilson a Phil D’Amato California-bred and two-time Sea stakes winner; ranked bets Smooth Cruisein ; And Spenard which he recently participated in Zia Park.

Baffert appears to have surrounded the field in the seven-furlong sprint that traditionally highlights Santa Anita’s opening day. This year, that map has been pushed back two days, from Dec. 26 to Dec. 28, in anticipation of several days of heavy rain expected in Southern California.

California fans will see the Ortiz brothers driving the Malibu, as Baffert has named Jose Ortiz Barnes and Irad Ortiz Jr. On Madaketweg .

Barnes, named after Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes and a $3.2 million Saratoga yearling sales purchase, will likely be favored as he posted a Keeneland field by 8 1/4 lengths in the Oct. 18 Perryville Stakes (G3). Jose Ortiz drove the son of In mischief twice, in the Perryville and when Barnes finished third in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Barnes also won the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and was second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2).

Madakat Road, a son of Quality road ran fifth in the Jerkens during his most recent outing. Although not a stakes winner, the colt has placed in four stakes, including the June 7 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Horn of plenty another son of Into Mischief trained by Baffert and a $1.1 million Keeneland yearling, is an intriguing comebacker. He hasn’t had any competition since April and has never started in California. Bee Oaklawn ParkCornucopian broke his maiden by 5 3/4 lengths to finish fourth as the odds-on favorite in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He then finished second in a one mile allowance/optional claims race on Aqueduct. Flavien Prat rides Cornucopian.

Baffert has also introduced a graded stakes placement Goal-oriented and two-time winner Midland money . Goal Oriented, who will have the services of Joel Rosario as he removes the blinders, ran fourth in the Preakness (G1), third in the Haskell (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1), and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Midland Money finished sixth in the Jerkens in his only previous stakes attempt and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Speedy Wilson takes a 1 1/2 length win at seven furlongs in open benefit/optional claiming company at Del Mar. Tough Sunday a son of the leading sire from California Grazing Speedy Wilson won the 2024 Golden State Juvenile and the 2025 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, both at seven furlongs against the Cal-bred company.

Smooth Cruisein finished second behind the Baffert-trained youth champion Burger Taurus in the August 31 Shared Belief Stakes. A Florida bred son of Givin Smooth Cruisein finished third behind winner Nysos another from the Baffert barn, in the Triple Bend Stakes (G3) and most recently fourth against older horses in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2).

Spenard, trained by Dan McFarlane, recently finished third in a mileage/optional claimer at Zia. California residents Beast mode And Berlin Wall round out the field.