McLaughlin, Godolphin Take Two for Malibu

Kiaran McLaughlin has been a licensed trainer for 21 years, conditioned Horse of the Year Invasor, crafted multiple championship campaigns, and has won more than 30 grade I races. But oddly enough, he's never won a race at Santa Anita Park. In his defense, he's only had 13 starters.



The East Coast-based conditioner has sent a pair of his rising stars for Godolphin Racing and grade II winner Cavorting westward for a raid at the two grade I races at the "Great Race Place" on its traditional opening day Dec. 26.



Of note, all three runners—he has Marking and Watershed for the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I)—are by Bernardini  , who stands at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley stallion operation near Lexington.



Marking and Watershed are both Godolphin homebreds, lightly raced, but accomplished going short. The Malibu, for 3-year-olds, is at seven furlongs. There they will face Runhappy, winner of five straight including the NYRA.com King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III), and the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).



Marking, the second foal out of two-time grade I winner Seventh Street, has been odds-on in his career starts, both open-length wins under Jose Lezcano. His maiden win, Sept. 23 at Belmont Park was at 6 1/2 furlongs and he followed up with 5 1/2-length romp going a mile in an entry-level allowance race at Aqueduct Nov. 4.



"He is a very talented colt and has a great pedigree," McLaughlin said. "He was a problem at the starting gate earlier this summer but we hope he is over his issues now. He didn't break great in his two starts but we hope he breaks well Saturday. He should be forwardly placed if breaks well."



Marking will break from post 2 in the Malibu. To his right in post 3 will be Watershed, ridden by Joel Rosario.



"Watershed is also a very nice colt," McLauglin said. "He faced Runhappy in his second start back on very short rest. He ran very well and made up ground after not breaking quickly and having a tiny bit of traffic."



Watershed is out of the stakes-winning Thousand Islands, by Dubai Millennium. He broke his maiden at first asking Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course, coming from seventh to win by four lengths going six furlongs. He then ran in the Aug. 29 King's Bishop, and after being 10 lengths off the pace after the opening quarter-mile going seven furlongs, he rallied to finish fourth, beaten 6 1/2 by Runhappy. He then went to Keeneland where he won an allowance going seven furlongs, 184 feet.



Watershed worked a half-mile at Santa Anita Dec. 18 in :47 3/5, one-fifth of a second slower than Marking the same day.

"We have more time between races this time and we hope to turn the tables. We have a lot of respect for Runhappy but hope we can pull off an upset with either of ours."



As for Stonestreet Stables' Cavorting, she seeks to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). Prior to that she won three straight including the Test Stakes (gr. I) and Prioress Stakes (gr. II) in New York. Bred by Swettenham Stud, she is out of Promenade Girl, by Carson City.



"These two races are very important being grade Is and we fit very well," McLaughlin said.



More importantly, the trainer would like one of his horses fit into the winner's circle the day after Christmas.