ARCADIA, Calif. — M One Rifle finally finished his job in a major race in Saturday’s $300,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita.
After placing in two stakes at the Oak Tree meeting in the fall, M One Rifle led throughout the Grade I Malibu Stakes, recording the biggest victory of his eight-race career.
Earlier in the day, Evita Argentina, with Joel Rosario up, got off slowly but finished fastest of all, storming down the center of the track to rally from last to first to win the Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Mike Smith, M One Rifle ($16.20) ran 7 fur-1 longs in 1:21.04, finishing 2 /2 lengths in front of runner-up Misremembered, the 2-1 favorite.
Breaking from the outside post in a field of 13 3-year-olds, M One Rifle was allowed to set fractions of 22.98 and 45.28 seconds and was not challenged through the stretch.
It was trainer Bruce Headley’s his first victory ina Grade I since Street Boss won the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar in July 2008.
Misremembered, the winner of the Swaps Stakes and Indiana Derby earlier this year, closed from sixth in the final furlong to finish a neck in front of Papa Clem, who was second early.
M One Rifle won the second stakes of his career in the Malibu. He won the Real Good Deal Stakes for state breds at Del Mar in August, and was later second, beaten a nose, in the California Cup Sprint and third in the Damascus Stakes during Oak Tree. In both of the Oak Tree races, he had the early lead and was caught late.
M One Rifle has won 4 of 8 starts and $378,572.
In the La Brea, Evita Argentina ($10.40) blew past 10 rivals to win by 2 lengths, with Starlarks beating Amazed by Grace by a head for second. Gabby’s Golden Gal, the 5-2 favorite, finished seventh in the field of 11. Mother Ruth was scratched.
Trainer John Sadler won his first Grade I of the year with his 25th starter.
Sports, Pages 27 on 12/27/2009