Santa Anita: 2022 Malibu Stakes Exotics Plays

A fantastic field of nine will travel seven panels on the Santa Anita dirt in Monday’s $300,000 Malibu S. (G1). The loaded field for sophomores is led by Bob Baffert’s two-time Grade 1 winner #6 Taiba (6-5), but it’s another from the same shedrow that I will key in first and second with my wagers.

#2 Messier (6-1) broke his maiden on this surface last campaign when powering home to a 6 1/2-length victory in his second career try, and he further proved his affinity for the course when delivering a sensational, 15-length romp in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) in his three-year-old debut.

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up has shown little in his last two assignments, when 15th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in May, followed by a last-place try at Keeneland off the bench. But, the well-bred son of Empire Maker returns to his favored venue and has trained like a colt who will deliver his best performance on Monday.

Messier has natural early speed and figures to be in the first or second flight of this dash with an expected clean break under John Velazquez. I foresee the $470,000 yearling purchase to be moving to the fore in early stretch at a fair price.

Taiba needs no introduction after exploding onto the scene in winning the Santa Anita Derby in just his second career engagement in the spring. By Gun Runner, the chestnut has been superb in all but one career try, and he was last seen finishing a good third to the mighty Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. Regular pilot Mike Smith retains the mount and will have the versatile colt within range throughout.

Dual Grade 2 star #1 Forbidden Kingdom (3-1) is the expected pace of the race from the rail for conditioner Richard Mandella. American Pharoah colt has flashed brilliance on more than one occasion in the past and enters relatively fresh off a close third in a Del Mar allowance tilt in November. Fleet chestnut is 2-for-4 on the course and surely warrants respect with Juan Hernandez in the controls.

I think that Wesley Ward’s #4 Nakatomi (10-1) is a bit underrated and will be a live exotics player from off the pace behind a swift early tempo. Firing Line gelding has come out on top in three of his last four dashes, and while this is a hefty class rise, the Kentucky-bred might be up to the task if he receives an ideal pace scenario with which to work. Tyler Gaffalione will be in the stirrups.

Malibu Selections

• Messier
• Taiba
• Forbidden Kingdom

Malibu Exotics Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 2 with 1,4,6 ($30)
• $2 trifecta key 2 with 1,4,6 ($12)
• 50-cent trifecta 1,4,6 with 2 with all ($10.50)