Malibu Stakes Opening Day spotlight: Barnes and Cornucopian target GI prize at Santa Anita Park

Update from Santa Anita Park — media bulletin

On opening day of the Santa Anita Classic Meet in ARCADIA, CA, the $300,000 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs will be spearheaded by Barnes and the returning Cornucopian, with ten three-year-olds chasing a first Grade I laurel. Owing to a forecast stretch of rain this week, the Malibu and the remainder of Santa Anita’s Opening Day slate were moved from Friday to Sunday, a common weather shift in horse racing when, for example, a front is expected to linger.

Both Barnes and Cornucopian hail from Bob Baffert’s operation, and his Malibu tally already stands at six wins. Joining that pair for the Hall of Fame conditioner are stable companions Goal Oriented, Midland Money, and Madaket Road, rounding out a deeper bench.

In his most recent outing, the Keeneland GIII Perryville on Oct. 18 at seven furlongs was dominated by Barnes, who drew away by eight and one-quarter lengths. That emphatic score snapped a four-race skid; prior to it, he gathered minor checks in the GII Gallant Bloom at Parx, the GI H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga, and both the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII San Felipe at Santa Anita, typical stepping-stone efforts for a colt.

Barnes arrives with seven starts producing a 3‑1‑1 slate and $557,750 earned for owner Zedan Racing. The mount stays with Jose Ortiz after the Perryville, continuity that can aid rhythm and timing, such as breaking placement.

Lightly raced Cornucopian appears for the first time since April 27, when he finished second in a one‑mile allowance/optional claimer at Aqueduct. Also by Into Mischief, he announced his ability in February at Oaklawn by romping home by five and three‑quarter lengths in a six‑furlong maiden; roughly five weeks later he jumped to the Grade I Arkansas Derby at one and one‑eighth miles at Oaklawn, where a hot duel up front led to a fade to fourth.

For the first time, Flavien Prat takes the reins on Cornucopian. Ownership is a broad partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and partners, a syndicate model often seen on a competitive race card.

Seeking to upset the Baffert quintet are Modus Bestia for trainer Richard Baltas and Berlin Wall for trainer Steve Knapp, with both attempting their first stakes try, similar to prospects stepping up in class.

Modus Bestia blossomed in the latter half of the season for Baltas, stringing together consecutive Del Mar sprint wins. A $500,000 yearling purchase, the Maclean’s Music colt broke his maiden in September at six and one‑half furlongs during Del Mar’s summer stand and then, on Nov. 1 at the fall meet, promptly cleared his first‑level allowance condition at six furlongs.

Owning a career‑top Beyer Speed Figure of 99, Modus Bestia stacks up with the Baffert colts on numbers. He is owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran and will be partnered by Edwin Maldonado, whose aggressive pace tactics can be advantageous, for example in short-field sprints.

Berlin Wall earned his Malibu chance for Knapp by crushing a first‑level allowance restricted to California‑breds at Del Mar on Nov. 16, winning by seven and three‑quarters lengths. By Practical Joke, he sports a 5: 2‑0‑1 ledger with $144,720 in earnings for Thomsen Racing LLC and Thomas E. Halasz, and Tiago Pereira gets the call.

At The Great Race Place, the Malibu Stakes headlines one of six graded contests on an 11‑race program. Also carded are the Grade I La Brea for three‑year‑old fillies at seven furlongs; the Grade I American Oaks for three‑year‑old fillies at one and one‑quarter miles on turf; the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. at one mile and one‑sixteenth on dirt; the GII Mathis Mile for three‑year‑olds on turf; and the GIII San Gabriel at one and one‑eighth miles on turf, a lineup likely to spur pari‑mutuel wagering.

POST POSITIONS AND RIDERS — GI MALIBU STAKES WEIGHTS LISTED

Race 10 of 11 — estimated post 3:30 PM PT

• Modus Bestia — Edwin Maldonado — 120
• Spendard — Tyler Baze — 120
• Madaket Road — Irad Ortiz Jr. — 120
• Speedy Wilson — Armando Ayuso — 120
• Midland Money — Juan Hernandez — 120
• Berlin Wall — Tiago Pereira — 120
• Smooth Cruisein — Kyle Frey — 120
• Cornucopian — Flavien Prat — 120
• Barnes — Jose Ortiz — 122
• Goal Oriented — Joel Rosario — 120

Admission gates open at 9:00 AM, and the first post on Sunday is set for 11:00 AM Pacific.