G1, The Malibu Sprint: Tough field of 3 year olds in California.
| California (CA) Saturday, December 18, 2021 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2618873 | |
| The Malibu Sprint | |
| Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000 | |
| Restricted to 3 Year Olds | |
| 7 Furlongs | ~1400 Meters | Seven Eighths of a Mile | Fast Dirt |
This week we are headed over to California where we have a full field of fourteen horses that will be running in the G1, The Malibu Sprint. This race will be restricted to 3 year olds and will be at the distance of 7 furlongs. At post the track will be listed as Fast Dirt as the horses make their way to their post positions. The odds have been tabulated and the morning line posted for this race. The random draw for post positions has also concluded. Let us now take a quick look at the fourteen horses that will be running this weekend in the G1, The Malibu Sprint in California.
| 1 | ANCIENT COMEDY | KY | 3M | xpansion5 | W Cahill | 13 | 7 | 69% | $2,508,341 | 312.00 | 7/1 |
Breaking from the inside post will be this Bay Colt who was sired by Flatter. This horse has been running very well in most of his races this season picking up five wins for the owner. Two races back he ran in August in the G1, Prince’s Kinight Stakes going 7 furlongs in New York. He made a big closing effort in his stretch run to get up for his first G1 win. He then came out for his most recent race on 11/06/2021 going 6 furlongs here in California in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Sprint. Again he was much the best when he closed sharply to get to the wire first for another G1 win with a 116 speed rating. He will return to the track here in California on Saturday and the owner has called in familiar jockey, W Cahill from Oklahoma. This jockey rode this horse in the Breeders’ Bowl, so we know this pair has worked together well in the past. They will be headed out at post time representing the Midas residency.
| 2 | IAN’S NAY NEVER | IRE | 3M | babydoll | C Schell | 14 | 5 | 64% | $301,098 | 52.00 | 12/1 |
Next out we have this Brown Colt who is a scratch bred (NO NAY NEVER x CAT THIEF x SUNDAY SILENCE). This horse has only been off the boards one time this season and that was two races back when he went 7 furlongs in New York in the G1, Prince’s Knight Stakes. He did not have a good trip in this race and finished off the boards for the first time this season when he crossed the wire in ninth place. He then came out for his most recent trip on 10/10/2021 when he went 7 furlongs in Kentucky in the G3, The Select Bud. He looked a little more comfortable in this race and was able to get back to the boards when he crossed the wire in third with a 112 speed rating. This Saturday he will come out and get the services of jockey, C Schell from out of Oklahoma. This jockey has saddled up with this horse one time in the past and he should know a little about how he likes to run. They will break from their post draw to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 3 | TRYGVE LIE | KY | 3M | shakedownst | A Jolly | 12 | 5 | 58% | $266,019 | 48.00 | 10/1 |
Here we have a Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (UNCLE MO x SEEKING THE GOLD x SECRETARIAT). He is a Listed Stakes winner who has only one Graded start to his credit. Back in August he ran fifth in the G1, Prince’s Knight Stakes in New York. This was not a bad finish for this horse that was jumping up in Class to face a Graded field for the first time. In his most recent start he kind of took the day off when he went out in New Jersey on 11/20/2021 going 6.5 furlongs in a $52500 Allowance. He never got a good footing in this race and crossed the wire in fourth with a 102 speed rating. He is coming back out on Saturday and the owner is calling in jockey, A Jolly from Louisiana to take the mount for this race. They will saddle up together and come out in the post parade representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 4 | LOWER HAIGHT | AUS | 3M | socalman | D Evans | 13 | 5 | 69% | $480,220 | 100.50 | 15/1 |
Coming out next will be this Bay colt that was sired by No Nay Never and that is out of HOF mare, Ash Highway. Three races back this horse ran in New York going 6.5 furlongs in the G2, The Everything’s Legal. Horse and jockey timed this race just right in their stretch run for the wire and got up by three quarters to get this horse a G2 win. He then had a less successful trip in August when he ran thirteenth in the G1, Prince’s Knight Stakes in New York. His most recent race came on the turf in Colorado when he went 6 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Magnificent Hero Turf Sprint. He did well in his first try on the turf and crossed the wire in third with a 109 speed rating. He now comes to California to try another G1 outing and the owner is calling in jockey, D Evans from Victoria to come in and saddle up for this trip. This pair will saddle up in the paddock and come out representing the Midas residency.
| 5 | STORM READY PIRATE | KY | 3M | witchesmoon | V Jennings | 12 | 6 | 83% | $480,940 | 122.50 | 7/1 |
Here we have a Brown Colt who is a scratch bred (MORE THAN READY x STORM CAT x A.P. INDY). This horse has had some nice looking races this season, but none so nice as his most recent trip in Nebraska. He came out on 10/31/2021 going 7.5 furlongs in the G2, Evolving Serpent where he put up a huge effort with a career high 122 speed rating to get up for the win. The owner liked what he saw in that race and will move him up in Class on Saturday to face this G1 field of contenders. Jockey, V Jennings from Arkansas is coming in to take to the saddle for this one. This pair will saddle up and make their way over to their post draw representing the Northwest Racing Circuit.
| 6 | SENSITIVE OVERVIEW | KY | 3M | foxon6 | J Benisz | 12 | 7 | 75% | $182,205 | 54.00 | 9/1 |
This is a Bay Colt that was sired by City Of Lights. He has had eleven starts on the season and has been off the boards twice. He got up for a nice win two races back when he ran in New Jersey in a Listed Stakes, Seeking The Cause Dirt Sprint with a 113 speed. He then came out for his most recent trip to the track when he moved up in Class to race at the Graded level for the first time. This race came on 10/31/2021 in Nebraska when he went 7.5 furlongs in the G2, Evolving Serpent of which he finished third with a 114 speed rating. The owner now brings his horse to California to move up to this horses first G1 start. In the saddle will be jockey, J Benisz from New Jersey who will try to guide this horse to another Graded hit on the boards. They will come out in the post parade on Saturday representing the Pastures of Green residency.
| 7 | IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT | AUS | 3M | brightvalr | J White | 13 | 7 | 77% | $315,780 | 46.00 | 15/1 |
Next out we will see this Light Grey Colt who was sired by More Than Ready and that is out of HOF mare, Blue Panther. This horse has only been off the boards once this season and that was back in May in his only Graded start in Maryland in the G3, The Jacob Hirsch. This horse was most recently seen in New Jersey when he traveled 5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Cat Fighting Dirt Special. He was trying to close in his stretch run and was able to weave his way up to third and crossed the wire with a 102 speed rating. He will be jumping back up in Class this Saturday to see if he can find a place on the boards with jockey, J White in the saddle who is a local jockey here in California. This pair will saddle up together and make their way out in the post parade representing the Midas residency.
| 8 | AN INQUISITION | KY | 3M | foxhold | F Oxon | 12 | 6 | 67% | $716,040 | 136.00 | 10/1 |
Here we see a Bay Colt that was sired by Distorted Humor who is a prior G2 winner. He found that win back in June of this year when he ran 6 furlongs in Florida on an off track in the G2, The Carry Forward. He has had multiple Graded wins this season, but is still seeking to find a win at the G1 level. This horse last ran on 10/10/2021 when he went 7 furlongs in Kentucky in the G3, The Select Bud. He had a good trip that day as he stayed very close to the front in this race and took control by the third call. He went on to pick up the win when he crossed the wire first with a 114 speed rating. He comes now to California and will get an opportunity to try and find a hit on the boards in a G1 outing. He gets, F Oxon from Louisiana to come in and take the mount up top as they saddle up together representing the Pastures of Green residency.
| 9 | GRAY SPIRIT | KY | 3M | aladar | N Lawton | 11 | 5 | 64% | $725,975 | 53.50 | 8/1 |
Coming out next will be this Roan Colt who is a scratch bred (TAPIT x MARIA’S MON x SEATTLE SLEW) who is a prior G1 winner. He found that win back in June of this year in Florida when he went 8 furlongs in the G1, The Marino. Jumping to his most recent start he went out here in California on 11/05/2021 when he traveled 8 furlongs in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile. He briefly had the lead in this race by the time of the third call, but could not hold off some late closers in his stretch run and finished the race back in fifth with a 112 speed rating. He will be coming back out here in California on Saturday and will get the services of a familiar jockey, N Lawton from out of New York. They have paired successfully in the past and that is what the owner is hoping to see again when they break from their gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 10 | HE’S GOOD ENOUGH | KY | 3M | atw17 | T Loesch | 9 | 3 | 89% | $190,020 | 53.00 | 12/1 |
Here we have a Bay Colt who was sired by Mitole. This horse is a Listed Stakes winner, but has not found a trip to the winners circle in a Graded outing, although he came very close in his most recent trip to the track. He ran on 10/10/2021 in Kentucky going 7 furlongs in the G3, The Select Bud of which he was trying to catch the leader in this race but it was not to be when he crossed the wire with a second place finish with a 113 speed rating. He is moving up in Class for this race on Saturday to see if he can find another hit on the boards in a Graded trip. He will get jockey, T Loesch from South Africa to fly in and saddle up for this race. This pair will make their way out in the post parade and to their gate draw representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 11 | NEEDLE BEAM | KY | 3M | temp3 | B Ball | 13 | 7 | 85% | $293,520 | 64.00 | 15/1 |
Next out we will see this Brown Colt who was sired by Curlin. He has been doing very well for the owner and has only missed the boards one time and that was on an off track back in July when this horse attempted to travel 9 furlongs. He was immediately backed down in distance by the owner and it seems to be where this horse is most comfortable. His most recent trip to the track came on 11/27/2021 when he went 6 furlongs in New York in a Listed Stakes, Gm Tech Lab Dirt Dash. He proved to be the best that day when he had a good closing stretch run to get up at the wire with a 112 speed rating. He will now be asked on Saturday to give more effort as he jumps up in Class to race in his first Graded outing. The jockey in the saddle will be, B Ball from out of China. They will come out at post time together representing the Midas residency.
| 12 | PRUT RIVER | KY | 3M | stormboot2 | V Gardner | 14 | 4 | 79% | $530,010 | 33.50 | 9/1 |
Here we have a Bay Colt who was sired by War Front. This horse has only been off the boards twice this season and he is a prior G2 winner. He found that win here in California back in July of this year when he went 9 furlongs in the G2, Swamps Stakes. His most recent outing also came here in California on 11/06/2021 when he traveled 10 furlongs in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Classic. He did not show up with the best of efforts in this race and proved to never be a factor when he crossed the wire in a distant sixteenth place with a 101 speed rating. The owner is in hopes that his horse can rebound after that last unsuccessful trip here on Saturday. The owner is calling in jockey, V Gardner from out of Florida to come in and take the mount up top in this race and see if he can get him back on the boards. This pair will make their way out to this dirt track and over to their gate representing the Midas residency.
| 13 | ATOMIC SMASH | KY | 3M | 3tees | F Gossett | 14 | 6 | 86% | $479,755 | 91.00 | 11/1 |
This is a Bay Colt that was sired by Carpe Diem. He is seeking his first Graded win and he almost got one his last time out when he ran on 11/20/2021 going 6 furlongs in New Jersey in the G1, The Double F Memorial. He was in fifth at the top of the stretch but started making way to the front, but never caught the leader as he crossed the wire in second with a 112 speed rating. He gets another shot at a G1 this Saturday when he comes here to California. The owner has picked up local jockey, F Gossett to take to the saddle with his horse and see if it is time to get this horse his first Graded victory. They will come out in the post parade and over to their gate draw representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 14 | BEFORE THE ALTAR | AUS | 3G | wtas02 | C Gerhke | 13 | 8 | 92% | $290,845 | 48.75 | 10/1 |
Coming out of the far outside gate will be this Bay Gelding who was sired by Justified. He will be entering Saturday’s race with five straight wins, all of which were at the Allowance or Listed Stakes level. His most recent sighting was over in Nebraska when he ran on 11/13/2021 going 6 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Virginia Beat Dirt Memorial. He again proved to be the best in the field that day when he closed nicely in his stretch run to get up by one and a quarter at the wire with a 109 speed rating. The owner has his sights set on California for his horse and is going to see what kind of effort his horse has to offer at the Graded level. They are taking a big jump in Class for the race and have called upon jockey, C Gerhke from Maryland to come in and take to the saddle for this race. This pair will saddle up together and make their way out in the post parade representing the Midas residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
1-Ancient Comedy: Coming off two G1 wins with good SP numbers. Does he get three in a row?
5-Storm Ready Pirate: Threw down a career high SP 122 last time out. Will he get up on Saturday?
8-An Inquisition: Picked up a G3 win last time out at the distance. Will he get another good trip here?
Tarton’s Long Shot
13-Atomic Smash: He was a threat his last time out going 6 furlongs in the G1, The Double Memorial of which he crossed the wire in second. Saturday this horse will go off as the 11/1 choice and could be a surprise in this field. If he can put together another good race like he did in New Jersey in his most recent trip he might be able to make some people happy at the betting window. Let’s put him on some exotic tickets on Saturday and see what he does on this California dirt.