Malibu Stakes 2019: Post positions, odds and more
Good things come to those who wait, or so they say. It proves true on opening Saturday at Santa Anita Park, where seven of 11 races carded are stakes.
Officials at the Arcadia, Calif., track postponed the original day after Christmas curtain raiser due to a wet forecast -- it indeed rained -- so in turn, they should be on a fast track and likely firm turf as action leads up to the featured Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes.
While a compact field of five, there's some depth with a trio of Grade 1 winners signed on:
Omaha Beach, second last time in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, is using the Malibu as a springboard to his career finale in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup (G1).
Complexity's going second off the bench, shipping in for Chad Brown. He won the Champagne (G1) last year and looked like a force in his allowance return.
Roadster, a non-factor in Del Mar's Native Diver (G3), is seeking a return to form. Two back, he came off a layoff to nearly defeat older rivals in a one-turn stakes race.
Two others in Bob Baffert's name -- Much Better and Manny Wah -- round out the field. The former should show speed, while the latter ships in previously trained by Wayne Catalano off a minor stakes placing.
Here's a look at the field in post position order with trainers, jockeys and morning line odds. Post time is 6:26 p.m. ET.
| # | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rank | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Much Better Pioneerof the Nile | B. Baffert F. Prat |
| 10-1 | ||||
| 2 | Complexity Maclean's Music | C. Brown J. Castellano |
| 2-1 | ||||
| 3 | Manny Wah Will Take Charge | W. Catalano C. Hill |
| 12-1 | ||||
| 4 | Roadster Quality Road | B. Baffert J. Rosario |
| 6-1 | ||||
| 5 | Omaha Beach War Front | R. Mandella M. Smith |
| 4-5 |
TimeformUS' Pace Projector indeed expects Much Better to set the pace after a rail draw, with Complexity also showing speed. The favorite, Omaha Beach, should have the advantage of picking his position under Mike Smith from the outside post position.
Omaha Beach has won this season at six furlongs up to 1 1/8 miles. In the shortest event, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), he defeated a more talented speedster in Shancelot coming off a layoff. Here, he gets a bit more distance in which to close.
TVG will carry full coverage of the card, with first post time at 2 p.m. ET, while advanced deposit wagering services such as NYRABets also live stream track feeds for account holders.
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Santa Anita's stakes lineup
Check out full opening day Santa Anita entries and odds.
Race 2: Lady of Shamrock Stakes (2:28 p.m. ET)
Race 5: Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes (4:18 p.m. ET)
Race 6: Grade 1 American Oaks (4:44 p.m. ET)
Race 7: Grade 1 La Brea Stakes (5:18 p.m. ET)
Race 8: Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (5:51 p.m. ET)
Race 9: Grade 1 Malibu Stakes (6:26 p.m. ET)
Race 10: Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile (7 p.m. ET)