Sponsored by:
Charlatan
Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan and Nashville, from the Steve Asmussen stable, head a powerful group of probable starters in Santa Anita s Grade 1, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs on Santa Anita s opening day, Saturday, Dec. 26. The Arcadia, Calif., track s traditional opening day headliner, the Malibu, the final Grade 1 of the year for 3-year-olds, will be run for the 74th time. (The race was run in divisions in 1972, 1975, 1977 & 1984).
Idle since finishing first in a division of the G1 Arkansas Derby by six lengths on May 2, Charlatan was subsequently disqualified from purse money due to a medication violation, so his official record is two wins from three starts. Including the Arkansas Derby, Charlatan, who broke his maiden and took a first condition allowance at Santa Anita this past winter, has finished first in his three starts by a combined 22 lengths.