Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park Results

by Bodog Racebook | Dec 27 2010

Held on Sunday, Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, the $250,000 Gr. 1 Malibu Stakes was a big test for Twirling Candy, a highly touted son of Candy Ride, who had heavy expectations on his shoulders after missing the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Proving he can win on turf and now dirt – in record-breaking fashion – the 3-year-old colt will be one to watch in 2011.

With Rafael Bejarano aboard, Alcindor – looking for his third win in a row – took the early lead from post position 2 in the 2010 edition of the Malibu Stakes. But he was pursued closely by Smiling Tiger, who was fresh off a third-place score in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November. Lukewarm favorite Noble's Promise, making his first graded stakes start since a stint at Ascot for the Gr. 1 St. James's Palace Stakes in June, stalked the leaders in third with Julien Leparoux aboard. And the duo of Twirling Candy and Joel Rosario remained close in fourth. As the field left the stretch for the turn for home, Smiling Tiger began to reel in Alcindor and finally claimed the lead in the homestretch. But Twirling Candy was also making his move on the outside, and the two dueled down the homestretch; at the wire, it was Twirling Candy by a mere nose. Caracortado, ridden by Joe Talamo, made an impressive move in deep stretch to edge Alcindor for third. Following Alcindor to the wire were Noble's Promise, Thiskyhasnolimit, Setsuko, Don Tito, Thomas Baines, Paris Vegas and Our Minesweeper.

Twirling Candy's winning time over a fast track was 1:19.70, one that beats Spectacular Bid's old track record of 1:20 set in 1980.

Owned by the Craig Family Trust, Twirling Candy ends 2010 on a high note, capturing his fourth win in five starts this year. His other stakes race wins were the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar in July and the Gr. 2 Del Mar Derby in September; both those victories were on turf. The Kentucky-bred has now earned $459,900 in his career. Trainer John Sadler will now likely point his charge to the second leg of the Strub Series in 2011: the Gr. 2 San Fernando Stakes on Jan. 15, followed by the Gr. 2 Strub Stakes on Feb. 5.

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