Street Sense's McKinzie Much Too Good in Malibu

Firming into 6-5 favoritism in what appeared a salty renewal of the GI Malibu S. on opening day of the Santa Anita winter/spring meeting, 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense) had to do it tough from his awkward draw in gate 13, but his class kicked in three-sixteenths of a mile from home and the $170,000 Keeneland September yearling–named in honor of the late Los Alamitos executive Brad McKinzie–overwhelmed his 13 rivals to score by 4 3/4 very convincing lengths. Identity Politics (Into Mischief) rallied from near the back of the pack for second, surviving an objection from the connections of fourth finisher Axelrod (Warrior's Reward). Fellow East Coast raider Still Having Fun (Old Fashioned), this year's GII Woody Stephens S. upsetter, was third. It was the third win in the Malibu for trainer Bob Baffert, who sent out The Factor (War Front) to score in 2011 and Mike Pegram's co-owned Shakin It Up (Midnight Lute) in 2013.

McKinzie looked to bobble slightly a few strides after the break and though he had shown plenty of early zip in amassing four wins from his first six trips to the post, the bay was outrun in the early stages and settled well back in the field while well out into the racetrack. Calexman (Midshipman) did the heavy lifting early on, tracked closely by McKinzie's less-heralded stablemates Nero (Pioneerof the Nile) and 'TDN Rising Star' Ax Man (Misremembered), as Still Having Fun landed just behind the speed. Still worse than midfield and consigned to a wide run around the turn, McKinzie traveled on the bridle for Mike Smith and was cut loose off the home corner, with Calexman to catch. Shaken up under hands-and-heels riding passing the eighth pole, McKinzie inhaled those ahead of him in a matter of strides and galloped home strongly for a third top-level success despite the ground loss. Identity Politics came out abruptly in upper stretch under a sharp left-handed stick from Irad Ortiz, Jr., bumping soundly with Axelrod and causing the comebacking Solomini (Curlin) to take evasive action. Despite Axelrod missing second by a half-length and third by an even slimmer margin, stewards elected to take no action.

McKinzie broke his maiden over course and distance at first asking last October, earning 'Rising Star' status, then was put up to first via a much-maligned disqualification of Solomini in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. The facile winner of the GIII Sham S., McKinzie was placed behind Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GII San Felipe S. in yet another controversial ruling Mar. 10. A hind-leg injury put pay to a trip down the Triple Crown trail and McKinzie resumed with a defeat of Axelrod in the Sept. 22 GI Pennsylvania Derby, but he faded tamely to finish a distant 12th after showing some early pace in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Winner of the 2004 GII Darley Alcibiades S., second to Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and runner-up in the 2005 GI Ashland S., Runway Model was covered by Storm Cat in her first year at stud and was scooped up by Summer Wind Farm for $2.7 million at the 2006 Keeneland November Sale. McKinzie is easily the best of five winners from eight to race for Runway Model, herself a daughter of the SW Ticket To Houston (Houston), who was also responsible for SW & GSP Mambo Train (Kingmambo), GSP Elena Strikes (Smart Strike) and SP Texas Kitty (Forest Wildcat), dam of GSW Saham (Lemon Drop Kid). McKinzie's 2-year-old half-brother Smart Alchemy (Super Saver) was sixth on his Japanese debut Dec. 22 and the mare is represented by a yearling Liam's Map filly. Runway Model was most recently bred to Street Sense.

Wednesday, Santa Anita
MALIBU S.-GI, $303,105, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.48, ft.
1–MCKINZIE, 124, c, 3, by Street Sense&log=">Street Sense
1st Dam: Runway Model (MGSW & GISP, $725,598), by Petionville
2nd Dam: Ticket to Houston, by Houston
3rd Dam: Stave, by Navajo
'TDN Rising Star' ($170,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Karl Watson,
Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-Summer Wind Farm
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-5-1-0, $1,086,000. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Identity Politics, 120, c, 3, Into Mischief–Brianna Rose, by
Distorted Humor. ($115,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '17
OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
3–Still Having Fun, 122, c, 3, Old Fashioned–Casual Kiss, by
Dehere. ($12,000 Ylg '16 EASOCT). O-Gary Barber, Wachtel
Stable & Terp Racing LLC; B-Mr. & Mrs. Charles McGinnes &
Tim Keefe (MD); T-Timothy L. Keefe. $36,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, HD, NK. Odds: 1.20, 13.90, 45.70.
Also Ran: Axelrod, Bobby's Wicked One, Calexman, Nero, Kanthaka, Solomini, Majestic Dunhill, Copper Bullet, Ax Man, Greyvitos, Seven Trumpets. Scratched: Super Sol, Cool Bobby.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.