Edwards Going Left could go to front in Malibu

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two key elements are conspicuously absent from the list of probable starters for the Grade 1, seven-furlong Malibu Stakes – a clear favorite and a definite pacesetter.

The Malibu is one of four stakes Dec. 26, opening day at Santa Anita. Collected is likely to be favored in the Grade 2 San Antonio; Unique Bella and Paradise Woods top the Grade 1 La Brea, and Big Score is early favorite in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile.

The Malibu, however, is murky. New York shipper Favorable Outcome is a potential favorite based on his recent 104-Beyer allowance win at Aqueduct. California stakes winners Edwards Going Left and Pavel also will attract support. Finding the likely pacesetter is more difficult.

Favorable Outcome and Edwards Going Left possess enough speed to be forwardly placed, but none of the 10 probable Malibu starters has genuine sprint speed. Edwards Going Left worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 Tuesday at Santa Anita. Trainer John Sadler believes he can be positioned close to the front.

“Oh sure, absolutely,” Sadler said. “He has a habit of being a little slow out of the there in a couple races, then he was better the other day.”

Edwards Going Left won the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for older state-bred sprinters in his most recent start, Nov. 19 at Del Mar. The class hike into a Grade 1 for 3-year-olds is not particularly severe in this case.

“He’s a Cal-bred. Is he going to be overmatched?” Sadler asked rhetorically. “I think it’s going to land just right for him.”

Edwards Going Left has won three of his last four starts.

Entries for the Dec. 26 card, including the Malibu, will be drawn Thursday.

The list of probable starters for the Malibu, in order of approximate likely odds: Favorable Outcome, Edwards Going Left, Pavel, C Z Rocket, Dabster, First Premio, Irish Freedom, Game Over, Heartwood, and Kroy.