With the 2021 racing year coming to a close, a very significant opportunity is still in front of us (Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Summer Wind Equine). The opportunity is to win the $300,000 Grade 1 Malibu Stakes with our 3 year old colt Flightline on December 26th at Santa Anita Racetrack. Winning Grade 1 races is the pinnacle of racing and extremely difficult. It’s more difficult when your horse is lightly raced and giving up valuable racing experience to other participants.
Flightline
The Malibu Stakes is an extremely prestigious race with a wealth of history. Winners of the race include: Round Table, Native Dancer, Buckpasser, Damascus, Spectacular Bid and Ferdinand. While you may not be familiar with all of these winners, you may remember Damascus won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby and so did Ferdinand!
History of Malibu Stakes Article
The Malibu will be a series of firsts for Flightline. While easily winning both of his races to date, they were both 6 furlongs (3/4’s of a mile) and the Malibu is 7 furlongs (7/8th’s of a mile). This will also be Flightline’s first stakes race as his wins were in maiden and allowance company. In addition to being his first stakes try, he will be facing stakes winners for the first time. One of the anticipated opponents (Dr. Schivel) has won multiple Grade 1 Stakes races and lost the 2021 Breeders Cup Sprint by a nose!
Horses Likely to Run in the Malibu Stakes
This week’s Daily Racing Form Divisional Ratings has Dr. Schivel ranked #1 and Flightline ranked #10 in the Sprinters Division. Flightline trained well at Del Mar Racetrack in the Fall and currently at Santa Anita Racetrack. Anticipation for the Malibu Stakes within the racing world is building and it will be exciting to see if Flightline can grab the brass ring!