Shared Belief returns in Malibu Stakes

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Eight weeks after coming up short as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Eclipse Award winner Shared Belief will get back into the starting gate Friday in Santa Anita’s opening day $300,000 Malibu Stakes.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Shared Belief will take on nine other 3-year- olds, including four trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, in the seven furlong stakes. The gelding will be ridden again by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and leave from post 8,

Shared Belief, undefeated in his initial seven starts, finished fourth in the $5 million Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Co-owned by Hollendorfer, Shared Belief was the 5-2 favorite for the Classic, but finished fourth behind Bayern, Toast of New York and California Chrome.

The gelding, also owned by Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing and KMN Racing, was next to Bayern in the starting gate and was bumped by the Haskell winner at the start. Stewards posted the inquiry sign, but took no action against Bayern.

The 2013 champion 2-year-old posted wins this year in the Los Alamitos Derby, Pacific Classic and Awesome Again Stakes. He missed the Triple Crown races with a hoof injury and began his season with an allowance victory at Golden Gate Fields on May 26.

Shared Belief has won seven of eight career starts and banked $1,852,200.

Here is the Malibu field in post position order: Conquest Two Step, Joe Talamo; Chitu, Joel Rosario; Indianapolis, Gary Stevens; Rprettyboyfloyd, Tyler Baze; Pimpernel, Martin Garcia; Midnight Hawk, Victor Espinoza; Tamarando, Julien Leparoux; Shared Belief, Mike Smith; Diamond Bachelor, Flavien Prat and Frensham, Mario Gutierrez. All will carry 118 pounds.

Chitu, Midnight Hawk, Indianapolis and Pimpernel are all trained by Baffert.

Post time for the Malibu will be approximately 6:30 p.m. ET.

Categorized in: Horses