For 6 Graded Stakes On Opening Day At Santa Anita Thursday, Dec. 26
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Reigning Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano and Breeders’ Cup runner-ups Johannes and Bentornato are among an array of Thoroughbred stars nominated to run in six graded stakes on Thursday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita Park’s 90th year of world-class Thoroughbred racing.
Mystik Dan, who won the 150th Kentucky Derby in May for trainer Ken McPeek, is among 14 3-year-olds nominated to run in the GI Malibu Stakes going seven furlongs on opening day. Based this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Mystik Dan last weekend had a five-furlong gate work in preparation for an expected start in the Malibu. The day after Mystik Dan’s work, McPeek confirmed the Kentucky Derby winner remained pointed to the Malibu.
Mystik Dan hasn’t started since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes June 8. He would be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner since California Chrome in 2015 to run at the subsequent Santa Anita winter or spring meets. Mystik Dan would also be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner to contest the Malibu since Silver Charm in 1997.
In all, 94 horses were nominated for the six graded stakes on opening day. The complete fields for Santa Anita’s blockbuster opening-day program will be set next Thursday, Dec. 19 upon the close of entries. Below is a rundown of key nominations for.
Grade I, $300,000 Malibu Stakes (7 furlongs, 3-year-olds) – Mystik Dan leads what figures to be a star-studded edition of the Malibu, which was first run in 1952. Bentornato, who was beaten just a half-length by Straight No Chaser in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, arrived at Santa Anita earlier this week for trainer Jose D’Angelo.
Also expected to start in the Malibu are Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold for trainer Phil D’Amato and Eagles Flight, a half-brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, who himself romped to a 11 ½-length win in the 2021 Malibu. Eagles Flight has not started since a dominant debut win against maidens going six furlongs in May at Santa Anita. On Thursday, Eagles Flight worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.0 for trainer John Sadler.
Grade II winner Raging Torrent, most recently seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for trainer Doug O’Neill, is also expected to run.
Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes (7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies) – One Magic Philly, who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, is among 16 nominees and is expected to start for D’Amato. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, One Magic Philly won three straight races including the GIII Chillingworth when facing older at seven furlongs Oct. 5 at Santa Anita.
Owner Mike Repole and trainer Michael McCarthy nominated both rising star Accuracy and multiple stakes winner Pushiness. Accuracy, who would be making her stakes debut, has won her previous two starts by a combined 21 ¼ lengths. In her maiden win going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 19 at Santa Anita, Accuracy aired by 15 lengths and earned a lofty 107 Beyer Speed Figure. Only potential Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who got a 111 Beyer when second in the GI Travers, has posted a higher Beyer this year among female horses.
Tamara, the beaten favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is expected to make her second start off a year layoff for trainer Richard Mandella. Tamara returned Nov. 15 going six furlongs at Del Mar and was beaten a nose by Sandy Bottom, who was also nominated to the La Brea by McCarthy.
Grade I, $300,000 American Oaks (1 ¼ miles, turf) — Grade I winner She Feels Pretty has already made the trip west for trainer Cherie DeVaux and is on the grounds at Santa Anita. Most recently She Feels Pretty romped by six lengths in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 12.
Also already on the grounds after shipping from Kentucky is stakes winner Kathynmarissa for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Kathrymarissa most recently won the 1 5/16 miles Dueling Grounds Oaks Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs.
Leading the local hopes are graded winners Medoro for trainer Peter Eurton and Watchtower for trainer Richard Baltas. Watchtower most recently edged Medoro by a nose when winning the GIII Autumn Miss going a mile Oct. 27 at Santa Anita. Medoro earlier this year won the GIII Providencia at Santa Anita and was second in the GI Del Mar Oaks.
Grade II, $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (1 1/16 miles, dirt) — Formerly the San Antonio Stakes, the race was renamed this year in honor of the legendary Hall of Fame jockey. Leading the nominees is Full Serrano, whose victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile was his first U.S. stakes win after being imported from Argentina.
Trainer Doug O’Neill nominated GI Pacific Classic winner Mixto; Katonah, who was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; and recent allowance winner J B Strike Back. Nominated for trainer John Shirreffs is Express Train, who won this race in 2021.
Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (1 1/8 miles, turf) — Looming large in the nominations is Grade I winner Johannes, who was beaten just three-quarter of a length when second to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Trainer Tim Yakteen last week said Johannes exited the Breeders’ Cup in fine order and was targeting the San Gabriel.
Also among the 17 nominees are previous San Gabriel winners Easter (2023) for trainer Phil D’Amato and Dicey Mo Chara (2022) for trainer Leonard Powell. Additionally, four of the top five finishers in last month’s GII Seabiscuit at Del Mar, including winner Mi Hermano Ramon, are among the nominees.
Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes (1 mile, turf) — Atitlan, winner of the GII Twilight Derby Oct. 26 at Santa Anita, and GI Hollywood Derby runner-up King of Gosford are among 17 nominees. Atitlan, trained by John Shirreffs, would finish off the board in the Hollywood Derby after his Twilight Derby score.
King of Gosford was beaten just three-quarters of a length when second in the Hollywood Derby. He previously won the Let It Ride Stakes at a mile on turf Oct. 31 at Del Mar for D’Amato. Other notable nominees are multiple stakes winner Stay Hot for Eurton and Lord Bullingdon for Michael McCarthy.
First post on opening day is at 11 a.m. PT. To view the complete list of nominations for all six graded stakes, please visit www.santaanita.com.
