Stakes Tracker: Santa Anita's opening day features shaping up

Not since 2013 has Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes attracted a field of 10 or more. The track’s stakes coordinator expects that to change Friday when entries are taken for opening day at “The Great Race Place,” where the Dec. 26 card includes five stakes.

The Malibu, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, will have top billing along with the companion race for fillies, the Grade 1 La Brea. Both carry a $300,000 purse.

Horse Racing Nation’s Stakes Tracker reflects a melting pot of contenders for the Malibu, making it a tough one to handicap, but a potentially lucrative opportunity for anyone with a strong opinion.

Axelrod and McKinzie, nine and 12th, respectively, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic are set to shorten up; Solomini exits a seven-month layoff here; and Copper Bullet will make his second start off the shelf after looking determined in his return at Churchill Downs.

From there, it’s worth noting the Bob Baffert-trained Ax Man has been gelded since his last start in the July 14 Los Alamitos Derby (G3). Kanthaka and Seven Trumpets will both run in the West Point Thoroughbreds colors, the latter as a shipper for trainer Dale Romans.

A strong local cast of sophomores will fill out the field.

Dream Tree will snag the headlines entering the La Brea Stakes as the unbeaten daughter of Uncle Mo, trained by Baffert and campaigned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, makes her first start since winning Saratoga’s Prioress (G2) back on Sept. 2.

Santa Anita was still waiting to hear back as of Monday afternoon whether trainer Bill Mott would try shipping Blamed to California. The 3-year-old by Blame won five straight races with the run capped by the Sunland Park Oaks last spring. She returned Oct. 20 in Mott’s care for a runner-up in the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland before winning Aqueduct’s Comely (G3) last out.

Another of the graded events opening day at Santa Anita, the San Antonio Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles will mark the final prep race for Battle of Midway, who’s aiming for the Pegasus World Cup. His top rivals include the hard-knocking Baffert runner Dabster and Gift Box, who’s new to John Sadler’s barn.

Also set for opening day are the Mathis Brothers Mile (G3) and Lady of Shamrock Stakes, both 1-mile turf events.