The historic Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, a key event in North American year-end horse racing, will now take place on Sunday, December 28, at Santa Anita Park. Originally scheduled for December 26, the race was postponed due to heavy rain affecting the opening day of the winter/spring meet at Arcadia Racetrack in California, which features six major stakes races.
This prestigious race has seen legendary winners like Mizzen Mast, Twirling Candy, Shared Belief, and Flightline. Its deep roots extend back to the Strab Series for 4-year-olds, which kicked off with a seven-furlong race in January, boasting past champs such as Roundtable, Buck Passer, Damascus, Ancient Title, and Spectacular Bid.
This year’s field includes 10 three-year-old colts, with half trained by Bob Baffert. From the rail, contenders include “Beast Mode,” debuting in stakes with jockey Edwin Maldonado and trainer Richard Baltas; “Spenard,” making his Santa Anita debut with Tyler Baze aboard; “Madaket Road,” looking for a strong seventh graded race start under Baffert and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.; and “Speedy Wilson,” a four-time winner with jockey Armando Ayuso and trainer Phil D’Amato.
Other notable horses include “Midland Money,” who made a spectacular debut at Santa Anita in June 2024 and recently returned after a long break; “Berlin Wall,” undefeated at Santa Anita; “Smooth Cruising,” who will run his sixth graded race with rider Kyle Frey; “Treasure Trove,” Baffert’s lightly raced colt making his first Santa Anita start; “Burns,” a high-priced yearling making a strong comeback after winning the G3 Perryville Stakes; and “Goal Oriented,” returning to Santa Anita with a history of solid sprint performances.
Analysis highlights “Burns” as a top contender, known for his impressive wins and strong speed figures, especially over seven furlongs. After some ups and downs, Burns recently returned to form with a decisive victory at Perryville, showing sharp training and consistent performance under jockey Jose Ortiz.
“Midland Money,” with four wins in five starts, is also a strong candidate. Trained by Baffert, he’s expected to wear blinkers again, which could boost his performance. His late pace and tactical speed make him a formidable competitor, particularly with jockey Juan Hernandez aboard.
“Treasure Trove” brings potential despite fewer races, rejoining competition after an eight-month break. This colt’s return, combined with Baffert’s strong record of winning with rested horses and the skilled riding of Flavien Prat, positions him as a serious threat.
Other runners have notable speed figures, including “Beast Mode,” “Spenard,” “Madaket Road,” “Speedy Wilson,” “Berlin Wall,” “Smooth Cruising,” and “Goal Oriented.” The primary race favorites, in order, are Burns, Midland Money, and Treasure Trove.
The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, with a $300,000 purse, is set for Sunday, December 28, at Santa Anita Park. The race starts at 6:49 PM ET over seven furlongs for three-year-olds.
Fan Take: This rescheduled Malibu Stakes will be a thrilling showcase of emerging talent and seasoned trainers, particularly highlighting Bob Baffert’s influence in the sport. For horse racing fans, it promises exciting competition and could shape the future landscape of elite racing in North America.
