By Christie DeBernardis
New York invader Favorable Outcome (Flatter) makes the trip to the West Coast for Tuesday's GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita. The Chad Brown pupil kicked off his sophomore season with a victory in Gulfstream's GII Swale S. Feb. 4 and was subsequently shelved. Third to the well-regarded Beasley (Shackleford) in his return at Belmont Sept. 30, the chestnut returned to winning ways in a N2X at Aqueduct Nov. 26.
C Z Rocket (City Zip) made the trip to Arcadia early for Al Stall, Jr., putting in a pair of quick works over this surface, a best-of-54 half-mile in :47 3/5 Dec. 13 and another four-panel move in :47 4/5 (2/36) Dec. 20. A perfect three-for-three lifetime, the bay followed a debut win at Saratoga in September with an allowance victory at Keeneland Oct. 11. He was last seen defeating “TDN Rising Star” and GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft) in a one-mile Churchill optional claimer Nov. 23.
It wouldn't be a Grade I in California without Bob Baffert and the Hall of Famer saddles two contenders in Dabster (Curlin) and Irish Freedom (Pioneerof the Nile). Dabster crossed the wire first in his debut over this course Dec. 26 of last year, but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Earning his diploma next out here in January, the $1 million FTFMAR buy was subsequently benched and returned a winner at Del Mar Nov. 3. Irish Freedom also visited the Del Mar winner's circle this year, capturing a NW1 in August, and checked in third when facing older rivals in the Comma To The Top S. Oct. 28. The dark bay was last seen finishing second in the nine-furlong GIII Native Diver S. Nov. 25.
Another runner of interest is “TDN Rising Star” Pavel (Creative Cause), a six-length winner of the GIII Smarty Jones S. in September. Third when facing older for the first time in Belmont's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 7, the gray never fired in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, fading to 10th.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
