Raging Torrent runs lights-out in Malibu; Mystik Dan trails in dull effort

ARCADIA, Calif. – Raging Torrent exploited a perfect trip at his favorite distance to win the seven-furlong Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Thursday at Santa Anita, while Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan produced a flat performance and finished last by more than 11 lengths.

Frankie Dettori rode Raging Torrent ($7.20 favorite) to a 1 1/4-length victory over Stronghold. Imagination finished a half-length back in third, followed in order by Pilot Commander, Winterfell, and Mystik Dan. Bentornato and Senior Officer scratched.

Trainer Doug O’Neill has been trying to win the Malibu for more than two decades; his best finishes from 22 Malibu starters were four seconds. O’Neill may have never gone into the Malibu with a horse as good as Raging Torrent.

“We really thought going into it, we were the best horse, the best distance,” O’Neill said. “Just watching him train day in and day out, he was training out of this world.”

Raging Torrent, who upset The Chosen Vron in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes in summer at Del Mar, was making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He broke from the rail in the Breeders’ Cup, was never comfortable, and finished seventh. Thursday in the Malibu, he broke from the outside post and pressed pacesetter Pilot Commander from second.

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Dettori was pushing Raging Torrent at the quarter pole, and he kicked turning for home. He reeled in Pilot Commander and held off Stronghold to win in 1:21.54.

At the other end of the field was Mystik Dan, the Kentucky Derby winner making his first start since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes in June. Mystik Dan lacked speed and never picked up his feet. Trainer Kenny McPeek was stunned.

“Well, I’m a little shocked,” McPeek said immediately after the race. “I’m going to need to scope him. It’s a tough thing shortening back up, and he’s been off a long time, he didn’t finish at all.”

While McPeek contemplates the next step for Mystik Dan, O’Neill is thinking about the next start for Malibu winner Raging Torrent, now 4 for 5 at seven furlongs. O’Neill said the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile this spring in Dubai is a likely objective.

The Malibu win by the BC Sprint seventh-place finisher leads one to speculate how BC Sprint runner-up Bentornato might have fared. Bentornato was scratched from Malibu due to a hot foot.

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