Goal Oriented storms to the front in the G1 Malibu, Santa Anita Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Following a quartet of Grade I efforts around two turns, Goal Oriented cut back to seven furlongs in Sunday’s Grade I Malibu Stakes and promptly earned his first stakes victory while also leading a Bob Baffert-trained exacta on opening day at Santa Anita Park. For Baffert, it was a record seventh win in the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds.
Following the pre-race scratch of Baffert-trained Cornucopian, Goal Oriented with Joel Rosario up was bet down to the even-money favorite. He prevailed by one length over stablemate Midland Money (4-1) with another 3 ¼ lengths back to Speedy Wilson (13-1) in third. This was Baffert’s third stakes win on the card following victories by Usha in the GI La Brea and Nysos in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr.
Goal Oriented, by Not This Time, broke from the outside post and was last early. It was Modus Bestia (7-1), ridden by Edwin Maldonado, who went to the lead from the inside post with Baffert’s third starter in the field, Madaket Road (5-2), pressing to his outside.
On the turn, Modus Bestia dropped anchor and Madaket Road took control. Shortly after, Midland Money went by his stablemate on the outside and took the lead into the top of stretch. But Midland Money could not hold off an onrushing Goal Oriented. The winner—who was racing without blinkers for the first time—swept past the field on the far outside and ran on to win in a final time of 1:20.97. Fractions for the race were 21.87, 44.30 and 1:08.81.
“The ride was beautiful,” Rosario said. “Everything was being set up beautifully and he was in a good position on the backside. I was just letting him find himself and he came out with a big run.”
Added Baffert: “I told Joel not to rush Goal Oriented. We slowed him down and took off the blinkers and he responded.”
Goal Oriented is owned by an extensive ownership group that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. He was purchased at auction for $425,000 as a yearling. In four starts this year, Goal Oriented finished third in both the GI Haskell and GI Pennsylvania Derby; fourth in the GI Preakness; and most recently, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 1. With the win, he upped his record to 7: 3-0-2 with $620,640 in earnings.
“Goal’ we know is a good horse and Madaket looked like he was going to take it for a while,” Baffert said. “And my other horse Midland Money ran really big. I’m just happy that it turned out.”
Goal Oriented paid $4.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Midland Money, ridden by Juan Hernandez, paid $3.60 and $2.80. California-bred Speedy Wilson, ridden by Armando Ayuso for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $3.80.
