GOAL ORIENTED - Malibu Stakes G1 - Benoit Photo
Following a quartet of Grade I efforts around two turns, Goal Oriented cut back to seven furlongs in Sunday’s Grade I Malibu Stakes and promptly earned his first stakes victory while also leading a Bob Baffert-trained exacta on opening day at Santa Anita Park. For Baffert, it was a record seventh win in the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds.
Following the pre-race scratch of Baffert-trained Cornucopian, Goal Oriented with Joel Rosario up was bet down to the even-money favorite. He prevailed by one length over stablemate Midland Money (4-1) with another 3 ¼ lengths back to Speedy Wilson (13-1) in third. This was Baffert’s third stakes win on the card following victories by Usha in the GI La Brea and Nysos in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr.
Goal Oriented, by Not This Time, broke from the outside post and was last early. It was Modus Bestia (7-1), ridden by Edwin Maldonado, who went to the lead from the inside post with Baffert’s third starter in the field, Madaket Road (5-2), pressing to his outside.
On the turn, Modus Bestia dropped anchor and Madaket Road took control. Shortly after, Midland Money went by his stablemate on the outside and took the lead into the top of stretch. But Midland Money could not hold off an onrushing Goal Oriented. The winner—who was racing without blinkers for the first time—swept past the field on the far outside and ran on to win in a final time of 1:20.97. Fractions for the race were 21.87, 44.30 and 1:08.81.
“The ride was beautiful,” Rosario said. “Everything was being set up beautifully and he was in a good position on the backside. I was just letting him find himself and he came out with a big run.”
Added Baffert: “I told Joel not to rush Goal Oriented. We slowed him down and took off the blinkers and he responded.”
Goal Oriented is owned by an extensive ownership group that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. He was purchased at auction for $425,000 as a yearling. In four starts this year, Goal Oriented finished third in both the GI Haskell and GI Pennsylvania Derby; fourth in the GI Preakness; and most recently, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 1. With the win, he upped his record to 7: 3-0-2 with $620,640 in earnings.
“Goal’ we know is a good horse and Madaket looked like he was going to take it for a while,” Baffert said. “And my other horse Midland Money ran really big. I’m just happy that it turned out.”
Goal Oriented paid $4.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Midland Money, ridden by Juan Hernandez, paid $3.60 and $2.80. California-bred Speedy Wilson, ridden by Armando Ayuso for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $3.80.
JOCKEY QUOTES
JOEL ROSARIO, GOAL ORIENTED, WINNER: “The ride was beautiful. Everything was being set up beautifully and he was in a good position on the backside. I was just letting him find himself and he came out with a big run. Quite a few things changed my plan after the two scratches, but ultimately, I let him do his thing.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, GOAL ORIENTED, WINNER: “It was just a whirlwind. Cornucopian was saddled and he just reared up a little bit, lost his footing and sat down like a dog. He was alright but once they do that it’s an automatic scratch here and I understand that. It was just silly, but it happens. So there was a lot of pressure on the other boys, Barnes had to scratch then Cornucopian. ‘Goal’ we know is a good horse and Madaket looked like he was going to take it for a while. And my other horse (Midland Money, second) ran really big. I’m just happy that it turned out. That we won it. It was a little upsetting there for a bit but I’m glad it worked out and we won the Malibu which is so important. I told Joel not to rush Goal Oriented. We slowed him down and took off the blinkers and he responded.”
OWNER QUOTES
TOM RYAN, GOAL ORIENTED, WINNER: “Bob had told me last week that this horse was doing really well. I’ve seen him working with Nevada Beach and when Nevada Beach ran so well earlier it kind of gave me confidence that this was the potential outcome. He got a nice draw on the outside. I’m just delighted Cornucopian is okay. He’s okay and back in his stall and now we have a winner in the Malibu so it’s a great credit to the entire team to have all these horses well prepared this time of the year. I look forward to the 4-year-old career with this horse. He potentially is getting better. He may be one of the generations greatest stallions, it’s very exciting.”
NOTES: The winning owners are SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J., Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.
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