ARCADIA, Calif. – For one day, at least, Santa Anita is the Great Race Place again. The winter meet begins Thursday with an outstanding card that includes six graded stakes, full fields, and a respite from the challenges that face California racing.
“The day after Christmas, that’s kind of ingrained in us,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “It’s our big kickoff to bigger and better things. When I was little, that was the big thing, to go opening day at Santa Anita.”
A racing fan who is now one of California’s top trainers, D’Amato has plenty to look forward to on Thursday, including the return of his Santa Anita Derby winner. Stronghold is poised to upset Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Bentornato in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, race 8.
D’Amato will be busy all afternoon. He starts Easter against odds-on Johannes in the Grade 2 San Gabriel, race 7; King of Gosford is favored in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile, race 9; D’Amato-trained One Magic Philly meets favorite Hope Road in the Grade 1 La Brea, race 10.
The quality card also includes the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, previously called the San Antonio. Katonah is favored in the Pincay, race 6. The Grade 1 American Oaks, led by She Feels Pretty, is race 11.
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Opening day comes at a somber time in California. Northern California racing is discontinued until next summer at the earliest, and though six stakes are scheduled Thursday, Santa Anita cut 11 stakes from this season’s schedule. Purses are down, local owners and trainers increasingly ship to states with higher purses. Opening day is always fun, but 2025 is uncertain.
“It’s a big year in California, we need to see some things happen. Otherwise, you’re just here for the weather,” one horseman said referring to purses. A hope is historical horse racing machines can be introduced; revenue from the slots-type device would supplement purses.
With no racing being held in Northern California, Santa Anita will offer lower class levels for horses from that circuit. An $8,000 maiden-claiming race Saturday attracted mostly Northern California runners; $5,000 claiming will be the new bottom level for winners.
While a lot is happening behind the scenes, the action Thursday is on the racetrack. Eight entered the Malibu; Senior Officer will scratch. Mystik Dan and Bentornato are the favorites. Stronghold was 8-1 before final scratches. Raging Torrent is entered along with three trained by Bob Baffert – Pilot Commander, Imagination, and late-running upset candidate Winterfell.
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is racing for the first time since he finished eighth in the Belmont Stakes in June. Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan, who is sprinting for the first time in more than a year. Trainer Kenny McPeek believes seven furlongs is fine.
“When he first started racing, we were running him short. We almost pigeonholed him as a sprinter as a 2-year-old because he’s that fast,” McPeek said. “I had to teach him to rate, settle, come from off the pace, cruise, and punch. That’s how we managed to win the Derby with him.”
McPeek acknowledged the Malibu challenge for Mystik Dan. “It’s tricky shortening a horse up after he’s been off a while. We worked him out of the gate at Fair Grounds before he left, because he’s going to have to step away from there. He’s gonna be asked to do something he hasn’t been doing. We’re hopeful his raw class overcomes that. He’s a very agile horse.”
The past four decades, just two Derby winners returned from June-to-December layoffs in the Malibu – Ferdinand ($10.40) won in 1986; odds-on Silver Charm finished second in 1997.
Stronghold, seventh in the Kentucky Derby, made his most recent start Sept. 21, finishing second in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. Stronghold was considered for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but D’Amato chose to target the Malibu.
“He had a lot of shipping. He was in Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania,” D’Amato. “It was an opportunity to give him a break and point for this race. He’s training up a storm. He’s very sharp right now, and he’s always really good out of the gate.”
Antonio Fresu rides Stronghold.
Bentornato finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for trainer Jose D’Angelo. He dueled early, put away pace rival Federal Judge, but got worn down by Straight No Chaser. The question Thursday is an additional furlong from the inside post.
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“I know seven furlongs is the question mark for him,” D’Angelo said. “But he’s 3 years old and this year he’s run [only] four times. So, he’s still improving.”
Bentornato arrived from Florida on Dec. 10, and breezed spectacularly Dec. 19 at Santa Anita, five furlongs in a bullet 58.60.
Bentornato and jockey Luis Saez break from the rail, inside speedy Pilot Commander in post 2. Raging Torrent, a seven-furlong specialist with speed, will also apply pressure from the outside post.
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