Shared Belief will target San Antonio Stakes for Malibu followup

ARCADIA, Calif. – With a successful comeback accomplished in Friday’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, Shared Belief is expected to make his 2015 debut Feb. 7 in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Saturday.

Shared Belief ($3) won the $301,000 Malibu Stakes over seven furlongs by a neck over the 72-1 longshot Conquest Two Step. The Malibu was Shared Belief’s sixth stakes win and his eighth win in nine career starts. His only loss was a troubled fourth behind Bayern in the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 1.

The San Antonio is run over 1 1/8 miles and has appeal to Hollendorfer.

“I think we’ll look at that race,” Hollendorfer said.

Owned by a partnership that includes television sports commentator Jim Rome, Shared Belief is unbeaten in four sprints in his career. In the Malibu, Shared Belief was third, then fourth in the first half-mile and rallied between runners to take the lead in the final furlong under jockey Mike Smith.

“Mike knew he had horse and waited for the right time,” Hollendorfer said.

Hollendorfer had a memorable opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting Friday. Earlier in the program, he scored an upset win with Sam’s Sister ($27) in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs.

The $301,000 La Brea Stakes was Sam’s Sister’s stakes debut. She won by a half-length over Taris, the 7-10 favorite who emerged from the race with an ankle injury that will require surgery and keep her out of training until the summer, trainer Simon Callaghan said.

Sam’s Sister, who races for Mark Dedomenico, Georgo Todaro and Hollendorfer, will be considered for the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares over seven furlongs Jan. 19.