NEWS
Johnny Eves lands first stakes victory in Malibu
Posted: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 8:01 PM
JOHNNY EVES
Benoit & Associates photo
by Mike Curry
Johnny Eves held off fast-closing Carrilero (Arg) to post an upset victory at 11-to-1 in the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) on Wednesday at Santa Anita Park.
The Skimming gelding surged away from Grade 2 winner Horse Greeley leaving the turn and won by one length to earn his first career stakes victory.
The seven-furlong race for three-year-olds served as the feature on opening day of the winter/spring meet at Santa Anita.
Trained by Jay Robbins for owner-breeder Mooncoin LLC, Johnny Eves had set the pace in three of his four career wins entering the Malibu but showed versatility by stalking dueling Desert Code and E Z Warrior from third through a sizzling half-mile in :44.04.
Johnny Eves charged to the lead from three wide approaching the stretch and was joined by Horse Greeley, who rallied menacingly from fourth under Victor Espinoza in his first start since May 6. Johnny Eves accelerated to a 1 1/2-length lead in early stretch and had enough stamina in reserve to hold off a late bid from 42-to-1 longshot Carrilero and prevail in 1:21.08 on Santa Anita’s Cushion Track surface.
“Down the backside, I was just trying to figure out what the speed was going to do. At the five-sixteenths [pole] I just decided to go,” Flores said. “This horse is very sharp now. We don’t know yet how good he is because he’s still learning.”
Third-place finisher Horse Greeley finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Carrilero. Les Grands Trois finished fifth as the 3.30-to-1 favorite while Grade 1 winner Great Hunter was 11th in his first start since having a chip removed from his ankle following a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 5. Previously undefeated Withers Stakes (G3) winner Divine Park finished ninth, and Grade 2 winner Cobalt Blue was 12th in the 14-horse field.
Johnny Eves entered off a front-running 2 3/4-length win in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claiming race on November 25 at Hollywood Park. He finished last of seven in the California Cup Sprint Handicap on November 3 at Santa Anita in his only previous start in stakes company.
"He disappointed me in the Cal Cup Sprint, but he’s always trained like he’s better than average,” Robbins said when asked about entering Johnny Eves in the Malibu. “He’s trained really well, but it was difficult for me to explain the Cal Cup Sprint.”
Out of the Capote mare Capote’s Halo, Johnny Eves improved to five wins in ten starts and boosted his earnings to $324,720.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
