Jimmy Creed nabs Malibu Stakes for connections
After a disappointing outing in the Grade 1 Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Jimmy Creed, bounced back in emphatic style to win the Grade 1, $301,000 Malibu Stakes for trainer Richard Mandella on the opening day of the Santa Anita Park’s winter meet, 26 December, 2012.
The 3-year-old colt by Distorted Humor was under jockey Garrett Gomez, and was sent as the 8 to 1 shot to win the seven furlongs test on dirt. The opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet marked as a memorable day for the Mandella family, as three races prior to the Malibu Stakes, Silentio won the Grade 2, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes for son Gary over the Santa Anita Park’s unique turf course.
Out of Citidancer mare Hookedonthefeelin, Jimmy Creed was instrumental in his Malibu Stakes win, as Garrett Gomez and Jimmy Creed timed a perfect trip to run down pace setter Private Zone, and win the seven furlong test by three quarters of a length.
Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Jimmy Creed with two victories in six starts prior to the Malibu, gave his connections their first stakes victory from seven career starts.
Jimmy Creed over a dirt track which was upgraded two fast couple of races earlier, went on to defeat eight sophomore rivals, and clocked seven furlongs in a brilliant time of 1 minute and 20.36 seconds.
"Garrett gave him a great ride, kept him out of the dirt as best he could," Mandella said. "He's a good horse. He's been training great on the track all along. He just had a bad day in the Breeders' Cup, that's all. Gary and I have both won stakes races on the same day before, but not as good as this."
"When I left the gate my horse broke really well and stuck me in a place where I was very comfortable and he was traveling really comfortable," Gomez said. "I thought I was in a fairly good spot and it was just a matter of which horse was going to kick on, so I had to make a decision on which horse to follow.”
Private Zone finished second, and after setting up swift pace under jockey Martin Pedroza, he was able to keep Unbridled's Note adrift in third.
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