McKinzie targets Santa Anita Handicap, will skip Dubai

ARCADIA, Calif. - Last year, McKinzie missed the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby because of a minor injury, and the setback kept him out of the Triple Crown. This year, McKinzie is on schedule for the leading race for older horses at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

McKinzie, the winner of three Grade 1 races, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 9 and will not be sent to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 30, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

McKinzie will be a leading contender for the $600,000 Big Cap, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. The Dubai World Cup was a consideration for the 4-year-old colt, and could be a possibility for 2020, Baffert said.

“It’s a long year and he’ll get better with age,” Baffert said. “We can do it next year.

“It’s a tough ship. It’s not a slam dunk.”

McKinzie has started twice at the current winter-spring meeting, winning the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, and finishing second by a half-length to Battle of Midway in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 2.

McKinzie raced between rivals in the San Pasqual and was always near the front.

“He didn’t get to run his race,” Baffert said. “He had to force the issue.”

Battle of Midway is a candidate for the Dubai World Cup, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said earlier this month.

McKinzie has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $1,126,000 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. McKinzie won the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at 1 1/8 miles last September, in his comeback after a six-month layoff, but was 12th of 14 in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 in his first start at 1 1/4 miles.

The Big Cap is the most lucrative race for older horses at the winter-spring meeting. McKinzie will be challenged by Gift Box, who won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in his California debut on Dec. 26. Gift Box worked six furlongs in 1:12 on Saturday.