Mubtaahij Breaks Through in Awesome Again

A new barn and new location led to a long-awaited top-level score for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Mubtaahij at Santa Anita Park Sept. 30.

Now under the guidance of trainer Bob Baffert, the Dubawi colt broke through for his first top-level score in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) with a closing drive Saturday. He finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of pacesetter Midnight Storm and finished the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:51.32.

It was Mubtaahij's first victory since the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) in March of 2015 and snapped a 10-race winless streak.

"I think the blinkers kept (him) more focused today," Baffert said of the equipment change. "I didn't want to change too much, though. He's a classy horse. ... This horse—his last two works really impressed us. I just threw him in here and he has the class. He's proven."

Midnight Storm went to the lead from post 3 and set a pace of :23.20 and :47.06 through a half-mile as Mubtaahij raced in sixth, eight lengths back. Mubtaahij advanced to fourth under jockey Drayden Van Dyke through six furlongs in 1:11.56, but favored Baffert stablemate Cupid also loomed in third.

"The trip was great," Van Dyke said. "I was really keeping my eye on Cupid and taking my cue from him. I was placed where I wanted to be and didn't start asking him until late, but when I asked him, he responded."

The favorite could not sustain his bid, while Midnight Storm dug in and the closers rallied late. Along with Mubtaahij came the longest shot on the board at 25-1, Win the Space, with a bid. As many as 12 lengths behind early, Win the Space appeared primed for an upset with a wide drive, but flattened out late and finished third, a head behind Midnight Storm.

"I thought he was going to win the race," said Midnight Storm's jockey, Tyler Baze. "He gave me everything he had today. He felt pressure the entire race and kept giving me more. We put away a lot of good horses today."

"Turning for home I thought I was going to win there for a second," said Win the Space's jockey, Joe Talamo. "We had a really good trip and I just kind of let the speed go and settled back in there pretty well. ... He gave me a heck of a little spurt there."

Although it was Mubtaahij's first grade/group 1 victory, it also didn't come out of nowhere. In two stateside trips he finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2015, and in 2016 finished a close third in the Suburban Handicap (G2) and was a head back in second in the Woodward Stakes (G1). He also finished second to California Chrome  in the 2016 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and fourth in the same event in 2017 for previous trainer Mike de Kock.

"Even last year, those last few races in New York were pretty strong," Baffert said. "He needed today. He got a little tired there at the end. He's good to have in the barn."

Cupid finished fourth, and was followed by Breaking Lucky, Curlin Rules, and Donworth, to complete the order of finish.

"I'm disappointed in Cupid," Baffert said. "I thought I'd run 1, 2 in here."

Bred in Ireland by Dunmore Stud, out of the Pennekamp mare Pennegale, Mubtaahij now has a 5-4-1 record and more than $4.5 million in earnings from 18 starts.