Colonel John faces six in Malibu

Travers (G1) hero Colonel John makes his final start as a three-year-old as Santa Anita kicks off their winter meet on December 26th. The Grade 1 Malibu has drawn a field of seven sophomores, led by the Colonel.

Eoin Harty’s charge was last seen finishing a solid 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic versus a salty group of older international company. Besides the Travers, Colonel John also won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sham (G3), both at Santa Anita Park.

2008 Breeders Cup Classic replay

He began his career with a place finish at Del Mar in 2007, and he won his 2nd career race at the Malibu seven furlong distance. Garrett Gomez, his Travers and Sham pilot, climbs back aboard. He is expected to try the Strub and Big Cap, both routes at Santa Anita Park, following his after Christmas extended sprint run.

Colonel John wins Travers

Into Mischief is supposed to head to the breeding shed following his Malibu engagement. The lightly raced son of Harlan’s Holiday has been part of the exacta in all five career outings, and he must work out a trip from the tricky rail post. Richard Mandella will give regular pilot Victor Espinoza a leg up.

Three-time sprint winner Bob Black Jack is the one to catch, and he exits a needed 5th place finish versus older graded foes.

Golden Spikes invades from Florida for the high percentage Marty Wolfson. The stalk and pounce type has the talent to compete with these, but he has never tried synthetic ground. He did work over the Pro-Ride surface on Dec 19th.

Nownownow has struggled in five starts this year. His last win occurred over yielding ground in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park, and his lack of any speed puts him at a huge disadvantage versus this salty crew.

Guns On The Table is getting better for Bob Baffert, but this is a tough spot to try graded company. Rafael Bejarano ends up here, and I can see him sneaking into the trifecta at nice odds.

3-time graded winner Georgie Boy rounds out the field. He was 4th behind Into Mischief when last seen on the Breeders’ Cup undercard. He should improve following that needed outing, but he might not be as sharp right now.

The Malibu is the 8th race on a 9 race card, which also includes the Grade 3 Sir Beaufort (race 7) for three-year-olds traveling a flat mile on the turf. Gio Ponti (post 12) is the 2-1 morning line favorite.

The 6th race, the $125k California Breeders’ Champion Stakes, is a state bred juvenile event, and the speedy Lordgivemealift is the tepid 7-2 morning line choice in a seemingly wide open event.

The 3rd race, a maiden special weight sprint, is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Photo Credit: Newscom