NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
Saul and Max Kupferberg’s Wake Up in Malibu, a 5-year-old gelding by Malibu Moon, made his stakes debut a winning one, when he wired a small but select field to win Friday’s $100,000 Saginaw Stakes at Belmont Park for older New York-breds at 1 1/16 miles.
Already a consistent runner, with four wins and 12 on-the-board finishes in 15 starts, Wake Up in Malibu broke his maiden and cleared his first-level state-bred allowance condition for trainer George Weaver, under whose care he finished only three times out of the money in 12 starts.
Claimed by the Kupferbergs from Jim and Susan Hill when dropped in for a $35,000 tag last summer at Saratoga, the gelding evolved into more of a confirmed front runner in three races for John Parisella, recording a first, second and a third. The Saginaw was his first start for the Charlton Baker barn.
Drawn in post three, and supported to the tune of 3-1 odds as second betting choice, Wake Up in Malibu was taken to the front by jockey Manny Franco after the break, and led the way, a length ahead of Sioux, through an opening half mile in 45.12. Royal Posse chased the pace three lengths back.
Pressured by Sioux around the far turn, who pulled nearly even approaching the head of the stretch, Wake Up in Malibu spurted clear once he straightened away for the drive. Opening up as much as four lengths, the gelding kept to business to the wire, where he posted a 2 1/4-length victory over fast-closing favorite Royal Posse.
Good Luck Gus finished two lengths back in third, followed by Sioux and Pax in Terra. After a mile in 1:33.71, Wake Up in Malibu stopped the clock at 1:40.39. [VIDEO]
Manny Franco, who had ridden Wake Up in Malibu to victory in his one claiming appearance, said, “I just let him do his thing. He likes to be on the lead. The trainer told me, if the other horse [Sioux, No. 2] goes, just sit beside him, if not, then take the lead. And that’s what we did. I won on him at Saratoga last year for George Weaver, so I know the horse and, today, he was better than ever.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Trainer Charlie Baker was all smiles. “He was looking like he was running comfortable. He was great. I thought maybe I should have waited one more race before he went against this type of competition, but I figured I’d take a shot. He trains like a great horse.”
Baker added, “He’s a nice horse and as he gets more fit, he’ll be better.”
Owner Saul Kupferberg, on hand for the victory, said, “I have to give [retired trainer] John Parisella the credit. He found the horse at Saratoga and recommended we claim him. I was a little nervous when I saw the [fast] fractions, but it looked like he had plenty left. We’d like to look at some stakes in Saratoga, but it’s up to Charlie [Baker]. He’s the boss.”
Bred by Vivien Malloy’s Edition Farm in Hyde Park, where he was foaled, Wake Up in Malibu is one of four winners and the second black type winner out of Wake Up Kiss (Cure the Blues), a multiple stakes winner bred by John Hettinger who was voted New York-bred Champion Turf Female in 2003.
Edition purchased the mare for $380,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November Sale when she was carrying her first foal, A Shin Forward, by Forest Wildcat, who went on to win the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto and earn over $3.4 million in Japan.
Wake up in Malibu is a Keeneland September yearling sales graduate, where he was purchased by Jim and Susan Hill for $100,000. With five wins, three seconds and five thirds from 16 starts, the gelding has earned $286,110.
