Runhappy Center Stage for Malibu

James McIngvale's Runhappy, a two-time grade I-winning sprinter this year, drew the middle four post in a field of seven for the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, worth $300,000, is the traditional feature on Santa Anita Park's opening day.



Runhappy, winner last time out of the TwinSpires.com Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), has a solid field of competitors. To his inside will be a pair of lightly raced but well-bred runners from Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and to his outside is El Kabeir and Lord Nelson, both with plenty of back class.



A lot has changed since Runhappy ran last. His trainer, Maria Borell, was dismissed and has been replaced by Laura Wohlers, McIngvale's sister-in-law and the star colt's previous conditioner. Edgar Prado, who was aboard Runhappy through three graded stakes wins that began with the NYRA.com King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) and Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland, has been sidelined with six broken ribs in a spill at Gulfstream Park Dec. 13. Prado has been replaced by fellow Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens.



"He's looks great. He's carried his weight well since the Breeders' Cup and looks like a pretty fresh horse right now," Stevens said Dec. 21. "Seven furlongs shouldn't be an issue for him at all.



"He's a super smart horse," he continued. "Speed is his weapon and I don't plan on taking that away from him."



Stevens has checked with Wohlers and Runhappy since he arrived in early December and was aboard for Runhappy's seven-furlong move Dec. 15. The son of Super Saver   sailed through the trip in 1:25 2/5.



"I've been out every morning," Stevens said. "When Runhappy goes out and trains, he's out on the racetrack for a long time. He stands and looks and does things at his own pace.



"My good friend Finn Green, who was the racing manager for the Reeves when Mucho Macho Man   was out here, has been out here as well. Green's gone home, but will be back for the race. The horse is in the same stall that Mucho Macho Man was in, which is kind of cool."



Mucho Macho Man won the 2013 Classic with Stevens aboard for Kathy Ritvo and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing



Stevens has been aboard Malibu winners Star of the Crop in 1992 and Rock Hard Ten in 2004.



Godolphin's pair—both by top sire Bernardini  —have only five starts combined among them, but appear to be dangerous.



In post two will be Marking, who has won both starts, one at 6 1/2 furlongs, the other at a mile, in New York. Odds on in both outings, he's out of two-time grade I winner Seventh Street. After firing a bullet five furlongs in :59 2/5 Dec. 8 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida he shipped to California where he went a half in :47 2/5 Dec. 18.



Watershed will break from post 3 and is out of minor stakes winner Thousand Islands, by Dubai Millennium. After a four-length maiden win Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course he was pitched into the King's Bishop where he closed from 11th, 10 lengths out of it, to finish fourth, 6 1/2 lengths behind Runhappy. Watershed bounced back with an allowance win Oct. 15 at Keeneland.



To Runhappy's outside will be Zayat Racing's El Kabeir, a son of the late Scat Daddy  . A winner of the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and placed third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), El Kabeir has cut back to sprints since his return in late fall. In his last effort he rallied to win the seven-furlong City of Laurel Stakes Nov. 14 in Maryland.



Peachtree Stable's Lord Nelson has not been out since finishing fourth in the Pat Day Mile Stakes (gr. III) on the Derby Day undercard at Churchill Downs for trainer Bob Baffert. Earlier in the year the son of Pulpit won the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) over the Santa Anita strip.



Black Gold Racing's Pain and Misery, second in the Pat Day Mile, returns to California from New Mexico where he was second in the Nov. 25 Zia Park Derby.



Reddam Racing's Bad Read Sanchez, grade II-placed at 2, has not started since finishing sixth in the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).