First Look: Malibu leads 6 graded stakes as Santa Anita opens

Taiba will make his case to be voted the top 3-year-old male of the year when he starts in the Grade 1 Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita next Monday.

After the lull of the last few weeks, the graded-stakes calendar picks up pace again, with Santa Anita hosting six events on the day after Christmas.

Plus, Fair Grounds hold points preps for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

Here’s an early look at the likely fields.

Next Monday

Malibu (G1), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds

The field is expected to be led by Taiba, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for trainer Bob Baffert. He’s expected to face his stablemate Messier, who finished 11th in an allowance optional claiming race on Breeders’ Cup Saturday in his first start since running 15th in the Kentucky Derby. Slow Down Andy cuts back in distance after a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Forbidden Kingdom started the year with two graded-stakes wins but is 0-for-3 since.

American Oaks (G1), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Sparkle Blue made her 2022 debut in July and has gone 2-for-3, winning the Rubicon Valley View (G3) last out by 2 1/2 lengths. Rhea Moon sports a 6: 3-2-1 record and is coming off a win in the Autumn Miss (G3). Pizza Bianca looks for her second win of the year after missing second by a nose last out in the Matriarch (G1).

La Brea (G1), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

Midnight Memories is 4-for-5 for Baffert, with graded-stakes wins in his last two starts, and would cut back in distance here. Micro Share would make her first start since a fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in April. Yuugiri was listed as probable by Santa Anita, but trainer Rodolphe Brisset said Sunday that he had not made that decision. She has been working at Oaklawn ahead of her first start since finishing 13th in the Kentucky Oaks.

Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-olds

Speaking Scout would cut back in distance here after winning the Hollywood Derby (G1) last out. Balnikhov has two wins from six starts this year after beating Wit by a neck in the Bryan Station (G3) last out. Handy Dandy is looking for his first graded win after a fourth-place finish in the Hollywood Derby, where he had a bumpy trip.

San Antonio (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Defunded has won two graded stakes in a row for Baffert, the Native Diver (G3) last out and the Awesome Again (G1). Country Grammer has one win and four seconds this year and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, his jockey for his Dubai World Cup (G1) win in March. Stiletto Boy would make his first start since finishing sixth in the Pacific Classic (G1).

San Gabriel (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 3-year–olds and up

Five runners from the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) are possible here, including winner Prince Abama and runner-up The Grey Wizard. Masteroffoxhounds’s only win in seven starts this year came in the Seabiscuit (G2), where he won by a neck. Air Force Red is a 4-year-old who didn’t race until this year. He has four wins from nine starts and is looking for his first graded victory.

Gun Runner, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds, 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby points

After his seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Andthewinneris switches back to dirt, a surface that he has tried once before, finishing third in the Bashford Manor. After a 6 1/4-length win in her first start, Jace's Road picked up three Derby points with a third-place finish in the Iroquois (G3) and then was eighth in the Street Sense (G3).

Untapable, Fair Grounds, 1 mile, 70 yards, 2-year-old fillies, 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) points

Pretty Mischievous won her first two starts before finishing third in the Golden Rod (G3), where she earned three Kentucky Oaks points. After two tries at Saratoga, Vahva broke her maiden with a three-length win last out at Churchill Downs. The Alys Look also broke her maiden on third try, winning at this track and distance Dec. 1.