Malibu

[Sandreadis]

TG free data is up! Thank you TG.

Who do you like?

McKinzie is drawn outside and high weight.
Ax man is first time gelding off the layoff.

Ax Man/Solomini workout 12/15.
https://www.xbtv.com/video/ax-man/ax-man-outside-and-solomini-worked-6-furlongs-at-santa-anita-park-on-december-15th-2018/

[Tavasco]

Of the Baffert entries my choice w/b Nero. Asmussen\'s Copper Bullet is interesting but I need to see the post time price. The colt is as likely to back up off his recent top, imho. as well as pair-up.

Still Having Fun has proven to be a solid sprinter and fit. I don\'t expect a bounce and think that one is the most likely to run a race that hits the board. He also should be an overlay shipping in from MVR. The othe MVR shipper BOBBY’S WICKED ONE Should also be a bettable price.

As good as trainer McCarthy was to me @ the Breeders Cup his young filly Vibrance did not comeback with a good race. Axelrod\'s running style makes me doubt him @ 7F even more than I did Bravazo (whoops on that one). But trainer MM did win last year.

Apparently others are thinking Baffert is gettable in this years rendition of the Malibu. I guess the success of Mind Your Biscuits last year and Runhappy the year before proves the West Coasters are beatable at home.

Many terrific race hourses have a Malibu win on their resume. A terrific betting race McKinzie has the most celebrity I suppose but who was the last Baffert Trainee you remember bouncing back after a really poor race maybe Game on Dude once. Lastly Hollendorfer is displaying confidence in Kanthaka who is arguably a jump up candidate.

Bottom line I like half a dozen of them.

[BitPlayer]

The Baffert that confuses me is Solomini.  He\'s getting some weight, has the numbers to compete if you project he finally moves forward, and should get pace to run at.  It could be a vote of confidence that Baffert starts him here, but I think the Zayats are often guilty of overly ambitious placements.  Do Ron Anderson and Rosario really like him, or are they just trying to get into Baffert\'s barn for the winter?  First-time Rosario may fit this horse.

[johnnym]

Watched his last work still looks uncomfortable changing leads.
Great race