The horse racing world witnessed a stunning upset in the final Grade 1 stakes race of the year, as the heavily favored Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan faltered badly while longshot Raging Torrent stormed to a decisive victory in the $200,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Raging Torrent Unleashed
Under a perfectly timed ride by superstar jockey Frankie Dettori, Raging Torrent unleashed a devastating turn of foot down the Santa Anita stretch, quickly putting his rivals away to score by a widening 1 1/4 lengths. The Doug O’Neill trainee stopped the clock in a swift 1:21.54 for the seven-furlong sprint.
“We really thought going into it we were the best horse. Just watching him day in, day out, he was training out of this world.”
Doug O’Neill, winning trainer
Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the compact field of six, Raging Torrent paid $7.20 to win. Stronghold, seventh in the Kentucky Derby, ran on well for second. The Bob Baffert trio of Imagination, Pilot Commander and Winterfell rounded out the top five.
Mystik Dan Mystifies
The performance of Mystik Dan, however, was the talk of the racetrack. The colt, who narrowly prevailed in the closest three-horse Kentucky Derby finish since 1947, never fired while making his first start since a lackluster eighth in the Belmont Stakes. He ended up a well-beaten last.
“He broke good, but it just seemed like we were always chasing. I think shortening up took away from him. After running a mile and a quarter, it is tough to go back to seven-eighths.”
Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan’s jockey
Questions will surely abound for Mystik Dan going forward after such a resounding defeat. This marked the first time a reigning Kentucky Derby winner had competed at Santa Anita since California Chrome in 2015.
Dettori’s Flying Dismount
Frankie Dettori, meanwhile, was elated in the winner’s circle following Raging Torrent’s triumph. The ebullient rider celebrated with his signature flying dismount to the delight of the opening day crowd.
“Of course, I was afraid of Mystik Dan, but I thought the day to beat him was today. At seven-eighths, my horse was very sharp and he proved it.”
Frankie Dettori
Graded Stakes Action
The lucrative Malibu Stakes served as the marquee event on a stakes-laden card at Santa Anita on the opening day of the track’s 90th winter meet. Two additional Grade 2 races, the San Gabriel Stakes and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, also featured notable winners:
- San Gabriel Stakes: Heavily favored Johannes rallied boldly to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Umberto Rispoli guided the 4-year-old colt to victory for trainer Tim Yakteen.
- Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes: In an upset, 16-1 longshot J B Strikes Back surged clear late to post a 1 1/4-length victory. The 3-year-old gelding, owned by Janie Buss’ Purple Rein Racing, provided trainer Doug O’Neill with a stakes double on the day.
The Malibu Stakes provided an exciting and surprising conclusion to the Grade 1 stakes calendar in the U.S. While Raging Torrent announced himself as a formidable sprinter to watch in 2024, Mystik Dan’s flop raises real concerns about his future. The racing world will be eager to see what lies ahead for both the vanquished champion and the new star on the scene as Santa Anita’s prestigious winter meet unfolds.
