Raging Torrent steals Mystik Dan’s thunder as Derby winner falls short in Malibu Stakes

Raging Torrent, bet down to run as the 5-2 favorite, gave trainer Doug O’Neill his first win in the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs on opening day Thursday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan was never a factor while making his first start in more than six months. The Goldencents colt was near the back of the pack throughout and finished last in the six-horse field.

With Frankie Dettori aboard, Raging Torrent tracked pacesetter Pilot Commander (7-2), took over at the top of the stretch and sped to the wire for his second graded stakes win this year. Most recently seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2, Raging Torrent this summer won the 7-furlong Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.

“Doug told me my horse was in good shape, we had a perfect distance, a good post and he was right,” Dettori said. “He was very tough today.”

Mystik Dan was on the move but ran out of time to pass any of his competitors before the finish.

“He broke good, but it just seemed like we were always chasing,” said Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan’s jockey. “I think shortening up took away from him. After running a mile and a quarter, it is tough to go back to seven-eighths. The horse is fine.”

Raging Torrent won in 1:21.54. He was followed by Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold (9-2) and Imagination (4-1). Pilot Commander held on to complete the superfecta.

“You know, the horse was doing so well and threw such a great pose,” O’Neill said of the winner. “We knew this is a perfect distance, so we were so optimistic. But in this sport, a lot of times you’re optimistic and you go home with a flat balloon … but he ran a race that we had dreamed of and just so happy and proud.”

Mystik Dan was the fifth horse to try to win the Derby-Malibu double. The first time it happened was in 1954 when Determine won both. In 1979, Spectacular Bid won both races, as did Ferdinand in 1986. Silver Charm was the last horse to run both races in 1997 and finished second in the Malibu.

There were six graded stakes Thursday and one of the most consequential was jockey Flavien Prat winning the Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes aboard King of Gosford. It was his 56th graded stakes win this year, breaking the record of Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, who won 55 in 2003.

This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 7:47 PM.