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Two Unbeaten Sons Of Speightstown Head Entries For Malibu Stakes

A pair of unbeatens, Bob Baffert's Charlatan and Steve Asmussen's Nashville head a powerful group of probable starters in Santa Anita's Grade 1, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs on opening day, Saturday, Dec. 26. Santa Anita's traditional opening day headliner, the Malibu, the final Grade 1 of the year for 3-year-olds, will be run for the 74th time. (The race was run in divisions in 1972, 1975, 1977 & 1984).

Idle since taking a division of the G1 Arkansas Derby by six lengths on May 2, Charlatan was subsequently disqualified from purse money due to a medication violation, so he thus officially has two wins from three starts. Including the Arkansas Derby, Charlatan, who broke his maiden and took a first condition allowance here this past winter, has won his three starts by a combined 22 lengths.

In a performance that had the racing world abuzz on Breeders' Cup Classic Day at Keeneland Nov. 7, Nashville powered to a 3 ½ length victory in a six furlong ungraded stakes, stopping the clock at 1:07.80 and thus earning a solid 102 Beyer Speed figure—two points less than Whitmore's 104 Beyer in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint over the same surface. Heavily favored in three starts, all sprints, Nashville, like Charlatan, is a son of champion sprinter Speightstown. A first-out maiden winner Sept. 2 at Saratoga, he has won all three of his races in gate to wire fashion by a combined 24 ¾ lengths.

Baffert will also be represented in the Malibu by three-time stakes winner Thousand Words, who has been idle since well beaten in the G1 Preakness Stakes Oct. 3.

Mark Glatt's Grade 1 stakes winning sprinter Collusion Illusion is also listed as probable and although he was well beaten by Whitmore when shuffled back early in the Breeder's Cup Sprint, he ran a much better-than-looked race and should give a good account of himself back on his home ground.

Nominations closed Dec. 10 and among those also listed as probable for the Malibu are the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, Michael McCarthy's Independence Hall and Doug O'Neill's Strongconstitution.

Opening day entries for the Runhappy Malibu and five other stakes, the G1 La Brea, the G1 American Oaks, the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile, the G2 San Antonio and the Lady of Shamrock Stakes, will be taken at Santa Anita on Monday, Dec. 21.

Although there is still no public admittance due to continuing restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Anita's races can be viewed live at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager on these races via a number of ADW platforms, including 1st.com/Bet.

Special early first post time on opening day is at 11:00 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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‘One Step At A Time’: Derby Hopeful Keepmeinmind Heads To Oaklawn, Will Aim For Southwest Stakes

Keepmeinmind, among the country's leading 2-year-olds, is scheduled to arrive at Oaklawn between Christmas Day and New Year's Day to begin preparations for a 2021 campaign, the colt's trainer, Robertino Diodoro, said Saturday morning.

Diodoro said Keepmeinmind has been in light training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky since breaking his maiden in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. The trainer said he hasn't mapped out an early 2021 race schedule for Keepmeinmind, but he likely isn't a candidate for the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22, a one-mile opening-day event that is Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races.

“Probably too short for him, especially with the mile here,” Diodoro said. “It's a short lane and stuff.”

Oaklawn's mile races begin and end at the sixteenth pole in the stretch. Diodoro said Keepmeinmind will be considered for the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 15 at Oaklawn. The late-running son of Laoban has raced four times this year (all routes), finishing second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland before his breakthrough victory as the 2-1 favorite. His last three starts have been at 1 1/16 miles.

Diodoro said Keepmeinmind is jogging at WinStar in advance of shipping to Oaklawn. Keepmeinmind has already banked 18 points to rank second on the early Kentucky Derby leaderboard, and the goal, Diodoro said, is a return to Churchill Downs this spring for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The colt also ran second at Churchill Downs in his Sept. 2 career debut.

“Just one step at a time,” Diodoro said. “It's easier said than done, keeping these horses happy and healthy. It's the same with all horses, but, obviously, our long-term plan is, hopefully, live the dream of being at Churchill in May. But that's a ways out. I won't say anything. Let the horse tell us. We're not going to force anything. He came back really good out of his race and is doing well at WinStar, so we'll just play it by ear.”

David Cohen, Oaklawn's leading jockey in 2019, has ridden Keepmeinmind three times, including his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Silver Prospector won the 2019 Kentucky Jockey Club before finishing fourth in the Smarty Jones – his 3-year-old debut – and capturing the Southwest.

Diodoro said Dreamer's Disease, who finished sixth in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is scheduled to arrive at Oaklawn in early January. Dreamer's Disease, also by Laoban, closed his 2-year-old campaign with a seventh-place finish as the heavy favorite in the $250,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes Dec. 6 at Aqueduct after stumbling badly at the start.

Diodoro, who has never had a Triple Crown starter, already has horses training at Oaklawn.

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Welder Attempts To Tie All-Time Win Record At Remington Park

Two-time Oklahoma Horse of the Year Welder is costing Remington Park a lot of money in ink. Virtually every time he steps on the track here, Remington has to re-write its history book.

Such is the case on Saturday, Dec. 19, when this 7-year-old Oklahoma-bred millionaire gelding will be trying to tie the track record for most career wins at Remington Park – 15. If he wins the $34,000 Guthrie Sprint allowance race on the next-to-last night of racing this meet, he would move into a three-way tie with Highland Ice and Elegant Exxactsy. Each of those horses won 15 times at Remington Park. The Guthrie goes as the eighth race and is scheduled to go to post at 10:23pm-Central.

“It would be exciting to tie the win record but I am so happy with everything he has done so far in his career that I'm just pleased he is still running and winning,” Luneack said. “Welder is training really well. It was a nice easy workout for him Thursday. He should be happy and ready.”

Welder worked five furlongs over a fast track at Remington Park on Dec. 10 with regular jockey David Cabrera aboard, going in 1:03.47, handily.

The last time Welder raced here, he won the $70,000 Silver Goblin Stakes on Nov. 13. He set a new record in that event, winning his 11th career stakes at Remington, breaking the tie he held with Okie Ride in that category. It was also the 11th stakes win in a row here for the gelded son of The Visualiser, out of the Tiznow mare Dance Softly. That was a record he already owned and was extending.

Here is a quick look at the other records this greased-streak of gray lightning has set along the way under the tutelage of trainer Teri Luneack for owner Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash), both of Claremore, Okla.

Two-time Oklahoma Horse of the Year (2018 & 2019).
Only horse in Remington Park history (since 1988) that has won back-to-back Horse of the Meet trophies (2018 & 2019).
Only horse in Remington Park history to win four stakes races in one season (2018).
Set track record for six furlongs of 1:08.13 in winning the David M. Vance Stakes on Sept. 29, 2019.
Eleven consecutive stakes wins in a row at Remington Park – two Remington Park Turf Sprints (one was taken off the turf and moved to a sloppy main track), four wins in the Silver Goblin Stakes, three wins in the Oklahoma Classics Sprint, and two David M. Vance Stakes.

An indication of just how well Luneack has prepped this big-hearted Okie-bred the past couple of years could be seen as far back as the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes on March 9, 2019 at Oaklawn Park when he ran two lengths behind Whitmore. All Whitmore did was come back and win the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint by 3-1/4 lengths. Those two could meet again during the 2021 Oaklawn season next spring.

Welder was made the 6-5 morning line favorite for the Guthrie allowance by Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk. The seven-horse field includes two horses that have actually finished ahead of Welder in the past. That pair – Share the Upside (5-1) and D' Rapper (6-1) – have not, however, beaten Welder on the track he loves the most, Remington Park.

Share the Upside, from Remington Park all-time leading trainer (by wins) Steve Asmussen's barn, also ran in the 2019 Hot Springs Stakes and finished a half-length ahead of Welder for second in that race. D' Rapper last beat Welder this summer by 1-1/4 lengths in the Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 5. Welder beat D' Rapper in the $150,000 David Vance Stakes by 7-3/4 lengths, the last time they went head-to-head at Remington Park, in September 2019.

Welder has started 19 times in Oklahoma City and won 14 of those for $819,859 here. Overall, Welder has won 25 of 37 starts, run second five times and third four times for lifetime earnings of $1,179,018. Luneack found him as a yearling at Center Hills Farms' division in Pryor, Okla., at Mighty Acres and Rash purchased him for $6,400.

If Welder can extend his win records and keep accumulating records, he could be well on his way to his third Oklahoma Horse of the Year and unprecedented third Remington Park Horse of the Meet.

“The prospect of having a third year Horse of the Meet is unimaginable,” said Luneack.

Here's a look at the field in the Guthrie allowance, race eight on Dec. 19, from rail to the outside with horse, trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1) Gordy Florida: Kenny Smith, Richard Eramia, 12-1

2) Direct Dial: Danny Pish, Lane Luzzi, 9-2

3) Welder: Teri Luneack, David Cabrera, 6-5 (morning-line favorite)

4) American Dubai: Clinton Stuart, Ken Tohill, 10-1

5) Tiz Alluptome Now: Steve Asmussen, Kevin Roman, 8-1

6) D' Rapper: Oscar Flores, (no rider named), 6-1

7) Share the Upside: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 5-1

Remington Park live racing continues with five more race dates left in this 2020 season. Action resumes Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 14 & 15 with the first race at Noon. The final weekend is Friday through Sunday, Dec. 18-20. The first race on Friday night is at 5pm, featuring the $200,000 Springboard Mile. The Saturday and Sunday programs each begin at 7:07pm. All times are Central.

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Laurel Park: Inaugural Spectacular Bid On Jan. 16 May Attract Unbeaten Jaxon Traveler

One of the newest stakes on the Maryland Jockey Club calendar may land a star attraction for its inaugural running next month.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's 2-year-old stakes winner Jaxon Traveler, undefeated through three starts, could make his sophomore debut in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Jan. 16 at Laurel Park.

“That could be an option,” West Point founder and president Terry Finley said of the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs, named for the Hall of Fame winner of the 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) and 1978 Laurel Futurity (G1).

“Statistically, even with really, really good horses, it's very tough to win three races in a row. We know that,” Finley said. “[It's] a small percentage of horses, especially at a good level or above. We knew he had talent and you just love the fact that he was able to put three very consistent, very solid if not better than very solid efforts together. It sets us up very well for 2021.”

In all, a total of six stakes worth $550,000 in purses will be offered on the Jan. 16 program including the return of the $100,000 Xtra Heat, last run in 2007 at Pimlico Race Course. Laurel's 2021 winter meet begins Jan. 1.

Finley said Jaxon Traveler, currently part of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's New York-based string, is expected to bypass Laurel's remaining 2020 juvenile stakes – the $100,000 Heft at seven furlongs and $100,000 Howard County going about 1 1/16 miles Dec. 26 – and spend the winter at Oaklawn Park.

Jaxon Traveler became a stakes winner with his workmanlike three-quarter-length triumph in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity Dec. 5 at Laurel. He captured his Sept. 25 unveiling at Pimlico by 10 lengths and followed up with a four-length optional claiming allowance win Oct. 23 at Laurel.

“He was dead tired for three or four days and then he kind of sprang right back. That was a very taxing effort,” Finley said. “Toby Sheets, who runs Steve Asmussen's barn in New York, has been very happy with him all along. There's no doubt that he came with it that day and he had to dig deep. We're not in a rush to get back.”

Finley said the immediate plan is to keep Jaxon Traveler, a son of multiple graded-stakes winning sprinter Munnings and grandson Grade 1 turf winner After Market, at shorter distances.

“He's definitely told us he's not a horse that we need to try to push on to the Derby trail. We realize that at this point in his career we need to stay at sprint distances,” Finley said. “We're trying to map out a winter campaign but I'd like to think that after being at this for so many years, we realize that the worst thing we can do is try to fit a square peg into a round hole. That's what we're not going to do with this dude. He'll stay at sprint distances for now.”The $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds sprinting six furlongs at Pimlico, traditionally run on Preakness weekend, could be another target for Jaxon Traveler. Asmussen won the Chick Lang in 2015 with Holy Boss and 2018 with Mitole, the champion male sprinter of 2019.

“Obviously when you have a horse like this, a sprinter that you think can be at the top echelon, you're thinking about getting him to the Chick Lang over a racetrack that he's already run. You're thinking about the Woody Stephens and you're thinking about the [Allen] Jerkens,” Finley said. “Ironically, Steve has had pretty good success with that path over the last couple years with some horses that are now standing in Kentucky. So, we're hoping that we're in that zone and if we get lucky we can follow that same path.”

West Point's Desbordes ($11.60), a 3-year-old daughter of Central Banker trained by George Weaver, held off a late run for Ortinola to capture Sunday's eighth-race finale, a one-mile claiming event for fillies and mares 3 and up. The winning time was 1:39.56.

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