How to Make Money Betting Runhappy in the Malibu Stakes
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Runhappy will be a heavy favorite in Saturday's Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Saturday, Dec. 26 is opening day for Santa Anita Park’s winter meet. The Boxing Day tradition features, among other races, the 64th running of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, a seven-furlong dirt race for 3-year-olds and the last Grade 1 race of the year. This year the Malibu’s seven-horse field is highlighted by Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy, who could be one of the best sprinters in recent memory.
Runhappy will be ridden for the first time by veteran jockey Gary Stevens as his regular rider is out with an injury and is back with his original trainer, Laura Wohlers. The 3-year-old colt is coming into the race off of a spectacular five-race win streak and all eyes will be on the probable Eclipse Award sprint champion. He seemingly hasn't missed a beat since his last win and trip to the winner's circle at Keeneland, reeling off four sharp workouts heading into this race. The Malibu is his race to lose, but let’s see who else might have a shot at an in-the-money finish.
While Runhappy’s speed numbers and class tower over the rest of the field, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is sending in a powerful Bernardini-Godolphin duo of Marking and Watershed in hopes of upsetting the race. Marking will be ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano and Watershed by Joel Rosario. Either would have to significantly move forward and have some racing luck to find the winner’s circle here. If Runhappy blinks then rapidly improving Marking, who was heavily bet and ultra-impressive winning both of his career starts to date, seems the logical upsetter.
Other contenders include: trainer Henry Dominguez's rank outsider Pain and Misery; 2015 Gotham winner El Kabeir, who is owned by 2015 Triple Crown-winning owners the Zayats; Bad Read Sanchez, who is coming off of a nine-month layoff; and 2015 Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert’s Lord Nelson.
Vick’s Picks on a $20 budget:
Strategy A: $20 exacta #4 Runhappy with #2 Marking
Strategy B: $10 Trifecta: 4 with 2 with #7 Lord Nelson
AND $2 Trifecta 2 with 4 with ALL
$300,000 Malibu Stakes
Saturday, Race 8, Santa Anita Park, 7 p.m. ET
Seven furlongs, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Odds
1
Pain and Misery
Tyler Baze
Henry Dominguez
Black Gold Racing
20-1
2
Marking
Jose Lezcano
Kiaran McLaughlin
Godolphin Racing
5-2
3
Watershed
Joel Rosario
Kiaran McLaughlin
Godolphin Racing
4-1
4
Runhappy
Gary Stevens
Laura Wohlers
James McIngvale
6-5
5
El Kabeir
Mike Smith
John Terranova
Zayat Stables
8-1
6
Bad Read Sanchez
Mario Gutierrez
Doug O'Neill
Reddam Racing
30-1
7
Lord Nelson
Rafael Bejarano
Bob Baffert
Peachtree Stable
5-1