Mubtaahij back for more in Native Diver Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Strength in numbers could not get trainer Bob Baffert’s four-horse team to the winner’s circle of the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

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Collected and West Coast were second and third behind Gun Runner, while race favorite Arrogate was fifth and Mubtaahij was eighth.

Mubtaahij was beaten 19 lengths, but that has not deterred Baffert from pointing the multiple stakes winner for Saturday’s Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. Mubtaahij drew the rail and is the only Grade 1 stakes winner in a field of seven. Baffert also starts the promising 3-year-old Irish Freedom in the $100,000 Native Diver, run at 1 1/8 miles.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mubtaahij, by Dubawi
Last 3 Beyers: 92-102-N/A

◗ Mubtaahij won the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30. In the BC Classic, Mubtaahij was 20-1 in a field of 11. He was fifth on the backstretch, but faded through the final quarter-mile. In the Awesome Again Stakes, Mubtaahij closed from sixth in a field of seven to win by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who has the mount on Saturday.

◗ Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Maktoum of Dubai, Mubtaahij was fourth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup behind Arrogate last March for trainer Mike de Kock.

Top of the Game, by Desert Party
Last 3 Beyers: 104-96-94

◗ Top of the Game was sidelined earlier this year to have a bone chip removed from a knee. A 4-year-old gelding, Top of the Game won his comeback in the Comma to the Top Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 28, his stakes debut. Top of the Game took an authoritative lead on the turn and led by seven lengths with a furlong remaining. He prevailed by 4 1/4 lengths over the multiple stakes winner Hoppertunity.

“He’s come back as good as he’s left,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said.

“I expect a big race.”

◗ Top of the Game has won his last three starts, including optional claimers at Santa Anita last December and February, one at at 1 1/8 miles and one at 1 1/16 miles.

◗ Owned by David and Holly Wilson, Top of the Game has won four of his last six starts, all with jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has the mount on Saturday.

“Kent likes him and the horse likes Kent,” Cerin said.

Irish Freedom, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-78

◗ Irish Freedom finished eighth in the Santa Anita Derby in April before winning an optional claimer at a mile here in August. Irish Freedom was third as the 6-5 favorite in the Comma to the Top Stakes, finishing a nose behind Hoppertunity.