Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita

Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Race Track opens for its winter meet, ready to host some of the best thoroughbreds in the business, this Wednesday, December 26. The schedule for the day includes two Grade 1 races - the first being the Malibu Stakes, a seven furlong dash on Santa Anita's dirt track for three year olds looking for the winner's share of the $300,000 purse.

A strong field of 10 has been confirmed for the Malibu Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita. It is race 8 on Santa Anita's Wednesday card and post time is 3:37 PM. Here is a look at all 10 combatants and their past performances ahead of this Grade 1 race.

2012 Malibu Stakes Race Favorites

The Lumber Guy - has seven career starts with four wins - the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park September 29, the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes on April 21, the Miracle Wood Stakes on February 25 and a Maiden Special Weight race in January. His only losses include a fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 7, a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May 12 and a close second to Trinniberg last time out in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He has been up and down this year but is clearly the class of the Malibu Stakes field.

Drill - Bob Baffert trained colt Drill first burst onto the scene by winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September 2011. It wasn`t until five months later that Drill reemerged with an impressive win against American Act in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at this same distance on February 19 on this very track. Since the San Vicente win he has been very good - a second in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn in April and a win last time out in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera at Hollywood Park way back in May. He has been out of action for nearly seven months but was in terrific form before the layoff and is 3-for-3 in his career at this distance.

Malibu Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Unbridled's Note - Steve Asmussen trained colt had a win in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes here September 28 and followed that with an impressive second to Mizdirection in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last time out. He had a very good third in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes July 29 and another decent third in the King's Bishop at Saratoga on August 25 to follow an Allowance Optional Claiming score in June. He has nine career starts with three wins a second and two third place finishes and has placed in his last five overall. Unbridled's Note has been competitive in every race the last six months and could is an interesting prospect for the Malibu.

Jimmy Creed - made his graded stakes debut with a respectable third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint here October 6 ahead of Amazombie after two wins and two seconds in four career previous starts including a second in the minor El Cajon Stakes behind Fed Biz August 31. He had finished in the money in five of six career starts but raced to a disappointing ninth last time out in the Breeders' Cup.

Politicallycorrect - three time winner enters the Malibu Stakes having won two straight minor stakes races - the Sanascus Stakes here last time out and the Oklahoma Derby September 30. Before that was a seventh in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes in July and a very nice second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistletown July 7. He has nine starts this year with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish.

Malibu Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com

Fed Biz - Bob Baffert trained colt has three wins in six career starts including two this year with all of his wins coming at one mile - the El Cajon Stakes August 31 at Del Mar followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track back in February. Last time out was a disappointing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to follow an OK third in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby October 6.

Private Zone - Canadian bred Doug O'Neill entry had a good second at the minor Damascus Stakes at Santa Anita November 3 to follow a third in the competitive Gallant Bob at Parx September 22 and a fifth in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar in August. Last time out was a solid second in the Grade 3 Vernon Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park December 2.

Guilt Trip - has only four career starts for trainer Chad Brown hand had a fifth last time out in his stakes debut - the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct November 17 after two straight wins at Belmont Park - an Allowance Optional Claiming October 27 and a Maiden Special Weight score September 26.

Basmati - Doug O'Neill pupil recently returned to action after nearly a year away to an Allowance score on this track November 2. 2011 saw Basmati record a win, three seconds and a third place finish in eight starts - the best result being a second in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes November 19 of last year.

Castaway - Bob Baffert trained Castaway finished ninth in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes last time out to follow a seventh in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby. Before that he recorded an impressive 3 1/2 length win at the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on February 20 and had a win at a Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita on January 21. Castaway has nine career starts with two wins a second and two third place finishes.

2012 Malibu Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Santa Anita's Wednesday card with a Post Time of 3:52 PM.