Runhappy heads probables for Malibu

Runhappy, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31, is part of a solid group of out-of-state runners expected for the $300,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes is run at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and is the traditional opening-day feature of the track’s winter-spring meeting. The Dec. 26 program will include the $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

The Malibu field is expected to include Bayerd, the runner-up in the Steel Valley Sprint in Ohio last month; El Kabeir, a multiple stakes winner in New York; Watershed, an allowance winner at Keeneland in October; and Pain and Misery, who was second in the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico on Nov. 25.

The locally based candidates include Lord Nelson, who won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in February, and Bad Read Sanchez, who has not raced since finishing last of six in the Santa Anita Derby last April.

Trainer Bob Baffert said that Dortmund, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby, is a candidate for the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 9, a race expected to include California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year. Dortmund won the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 28. He has not worked since that race.

Runhappy has not raced since the BC Sprint. On Tuesday, he worked seven furlongs in 1:25.40 under jockey Gary Stevens, who will have the mount in the Malibu. Runhappy has been based at Santa Anita since early December.

“He did well,” trainer Laura Wohlers said of the workout. “He’s been eating well, and he’s starting to settle in. It was good that we had enough time to let Gary breeze him.”

Stevens replaces an injured Edgar Prado, who was aboard Runhappy for three consecutive graded stakes wins this year.

Owned by Jim McIngvale, Runhappy has won 6 of 7 starts and earned $1,301,300. Wohlers said Runhappy will be given a monthlong break following the Malibu before resuming light training. The Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park in the spring will be an early-season goal for 2016, she said.