Speed Boat Beach powers home a winner for Baffert in Malibu

In a stretch battle befitting its status as Santa Anita’s opening-day headliner, Tuesday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes showcased  Speed Boat Beach and stablemate Hejazi as they threw down from the quarter pole home.

With favored Speed Boat Beach prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths while getting the seven furlongs in 1:21.70, trainer Bob Baffert collected the exacta as well as his record-tying sixth win in the race, putting him atop the prestigious Malibu list with fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.

“It is a good feeling,” Baffert said. “Turning for home I knew I was going to win it. I wasn’t sure which one it was going to be.”

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Ridden by Juan Hernández, Hejazi broke sharply to take the lead from his number 6 post position, but he was headed by Speed Boat Beach and Flavien Prat to his inside a half-mile out.

Racing as a team into and around the far turn, it appeared Hejazi put a head in front at the quarter pole. When they straightened for home, Speed Boat Beach was all business, opening up by a length. From there he was able to repel a resolute challenge from Hejazi to register his first Grade 1 win.

“He was really sharp early,” said Prat, who had three wins Tuesday. “I got him to relax, and we took a little breather. Around the turn he really went well. He didn’t mind being on the inside. He was really in a good rhythm today.”

Prat, who had not ridden Speed Boat Beach since Dec. 4, 2022, rang up his second win in the Malibu, following up on his opening-day score two years ago aboard undefeated super horse Flightline.

A Florida-bred, 3-year-old colt by 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Sophia Mia, Speed Boat Beach made his third start of the year. He came off a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint over the same course but a furlong shorter Nov. 4.

“His issue is that he has always been very aggressive,” Baffert said. “He’s aggressive in the mornings and aggressive in his races. We have been working on getting him relaxed, a lot of schooling. ... Prat worked him for me today, and he actually worked really well with Prat. He got along with him really well, got him to come off the bit a little bit.”

Speed Boat Beach went off as the 8-5 favorite in a field seven sophomores and paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.60. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Speed Boat Beach is also a Grade 3, one-mile, turf winner who notched his third graded stakes win and his fourth win from seven starts.

With the winner’s share of $180,000, Speed Boach Beach hiked his earnings to $498,000.

Off as the second choice at 2-1, Hejazi finished three lengths clear of Giant Mischief and paid $4.00 and $2.60.

Carrying odds of 10-1 and jockey Kazushi Kimura, Giant Mischief broke from the rail and rallied for third place, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Damon’s Mound and returning $4.00 to show.

Fractions for the race on the fast main track were 22.21, 44.42 and 1:08.65 in front of an announced crowd of 37,143.

Without declaring a next race for Speed Boat Beach, Baffert said, “I see big things for him down the road.”