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Malibu Pier comes roaring back in Santa Ana
Malibu Pier was still traveling comfortably for Bejarano, who had just decided to back out of the duel at that point. Coming around Lilly Fa Pootz turning into the lane, Malibu Pier collared her in midstretch and drove to the front. Meanwhile, Turning Top got back into stride, and emerged as the biggest threat inside the final furlong. Malibu Pier was not about to relinquish the advantage, though, and kept finding more to complete 1 1/8 miles on the good ground in 1:48. "I was on an easy lead the first turn and I had a lot of horse," Bejarano said. "I knew number 8 (Lilly Fa Pootz) was going to try and go to the lead. I tried to make sure my horse was relaxed. At the half-mile pole I decided to let her relax. I gave her a little breather before I came to the turn and then let her go. When I came to the top of the stretch I let her shoot to the lead, and she showed me a big kick. She was really good today." "She was feeling good in the paddock, but I wasn't worried," Gaines said of Malibu Pier's being on the muscle beforehand. "She just had her game face on. She was going so easy (when passed by Lilly Fa Pootz). He (Bejarano) was just giving her a breather. Basically, I just told him to let her break and find her place in the race, assuming we would be up fairly close. We knew that probably Hollendorfer's filly (Lilly Fa Pootz) was going to go." After a 1 1/4-length gap came the remaining four finishers, all necks apart. Lilly Fa Pootz just outfinished herJerry Hollendorfer-trained stablemate Washington Bridge (Yankee Gentleman) for third, with Eclair de Lune (Ger) (Marchand de Sable) and It Tiz (Tiznow) rounding out the order under the wire. Blue Maiden (GB) (Medicean) and Church Camp (Forest Camp) were scratched. Malibu Pier now sports a mark of 8-4-1-1, $252,200. The chestnut began her career on turf, winning her first two outings as a sophomore last summer, and wound up fourth in her stakes debut in the Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3). Malibu Pier tried the main track in her next pair, and proved herself a multi-surface performer. She romped by 4 3/4 lengths in an off-the-turf allowance optional claimer over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track, and closed for runner-up honors in the La Brea S. (G1) on Santa Anita's dirt. Malibu Pier threw in her only poor race when trailing in the El Encino S. (G2), but regrouped with her third in the Buena Vista. "She's very versatile," Gaines said. "We have a lot of options, but we're just going to enjoy this for now." The Kentucky-bred was produced by Grade 2 queen Blue Moon (Fr) (Lomitas [GB]), the winner of the 2002 Buena Vista and runner-up in the 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1). Her latest foals are a juvenile filly named Greer's Secret (Mr. Greeley) and an unnamed yearling filly by Malibu Moon, a full sister to Malibu Pier. This is the family of Grade 1 heroine Passing Shot (A.P. Indy) and Spanish Horse of the Year Bannaby (Dyhim Diamond [Ire]).
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