Raging Torrent Outlasts Stronghold In Malibu, Mystik Dan Well Beaten

[Wandering Eyes]

Firming into 13-5 favoritism in the final few clicks of the tote, RAGING TORRENT (c, 3, Maximus Mischief–Violent Wave, by Violence) found his best stride well off the inside entering the final eighth of a mile and staved off a late challenge from 2024 GI Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold (Ghostzapper) to win Thursday's GI Malibu Stakes, the traditional opening-day feature at the Great RIP. Drawn widest in a field reduced to six with the early scratchings of Senior Officer (Into Mischief) and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato (Valiant Minister) due to a sore foot, Raging Torrent was a half-step slowly into stride, but recovered nicely and ultimately settled in second as Pilot Commander (Justify) shot through at the inside to take up the running not long after the start. The latter took the field into the turn having gone the opening half-mile in a snappy :44.29, and Frankie Dettori was scrubbing on Raging Torrent to keep pace. Pilot Commander was first to face the judge, but Dettori and Raging Torrent came to tackle with a furlong and a half to travel and was kept to his task to the wire. Stronghold was beaten a tight length into second, while Imagination (Into Mischief) lasted inside for third. The disappointment of the race was the comebacking Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who was unsurprisingly outrun through the fast early sectionals, but never picked up the bit in the lane and finished well back as the 3-1 third choice. The first Grade I winner for his sire (by Into Mischief), Raging Torrent was stretching back out to seven furlongs after finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Thursday, Santa Anita
MALIBU S.-GI, $300,500, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.54, ft.
1–RAGING TORRENT, 122, c, 3, by Maximus Mischief
                1st Dam: Violent Wave, by Violence
                2nd Dam: Coastal Wave, by Dixieland Band
                3rd Dam: Orange Wave, by Coastal
   1ST GRADE I WIN. ($27,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo
'23 OBSAPR). O-Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis;
B-Rodney J. Winkler & Alfonso Mazzetti (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill;
J-Lanfranco Dettori. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 12-5-1-2,
$667,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stronghold, 122, c, 3, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. O/B-Eric Waller & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$60,000.
3–Imagination, 122, c, 3, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by
Empire Maker. ($1,050,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC,
Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC,
Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC,
Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan; B-Peter E. Blum
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.60, 4.60, 4.10.
Also Ran: Pilot Commander, Winterfell, Mystik Dan. Scratched: Bentornato, Senior Officer. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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