FAIRPLEX : Malibu Light Surges to Win Feature Race

Jockey Danny Sorenson had a feeling things could break right for him in the $50,000 Las Ninas Stakes at Fairplex Park on Friday.

On a day front-runners were having trouble holding the lead, Sorenson had the mount on Malibu Light, a late-running filly, in a 6 1/2-furlong race that featured front-runners Persistant Sal and Klassy Kim.

Persistant Sal, in particular, had been a standout in two previous races. She was unbeaten and had earned a 104 Beyer speed rating with her maiden victory on June 18 at Hollywood Park.

But Friday, Klassy Kim went out with Persistant Sal and they set fractions of 21 1/5 and 44 4/5, which set up perfectly for Malibu Light.

Malibu Light, along with Gambling Mistress, made a move at the top of the stretch and both horses passed the early leaders to finish 1-2.

Malibu Light, the winner by a length, was timed in 1:17 3/5 and paid 11.40.

“When I read the paper, the race set up well for us,” Sorenson said. “When I talked it over with (trainer) George (Vogel), he told me the same thing. She ran hard and deserved to win.”

Vogel said he has no plans for Malibu Light. “I think we’ll just take the money and run,” he said.

*

Fernando Valenzuela rode four winners, highlighted by his victory aboard Luxury Box in the $50,000 Beau Brummel Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings in the 10th race.

It was the third victory in four starts for Luxury Box, who is owned by Dan J. Agnew and trained by Jerry Fanning.

Breaking from the No. 5 post in the six-horse field, Valenzuela sent Luxury Box to the lead and never relinquished it. Cold N Calculating, the even-money favorite ridden by Pat Valenzuela, chased the winner home but came up a length short. The winner covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17 4/5 and paid $5.80.

“I was impressed by this colt,” Valenzuela said. “I was lucky to get an easy lead and slow it down. When I chirped to him, he had another gear, actually, a couple of gears left. He rides the bullring like he’s a bullring horse.”

Luxury Box’s next start will probably be on closing day, Oct. 3, in the Breeders’ Cup Stakes, according to Fanning.

Valenzuela’s other winners came on Broken Melody ($11.80) in the sixth, Sea Of Serenity ($4.00) in the seventh and Flying Safeera ($9.80) in the ninth.

Notes

The $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park in New York will be simulcast at Fairplex today. The scheduled post time is 1:41 p.m., about 20 minutes before the first live race. . . . Fernando Valenzuela, who rode 5-1 shot Rotsaluck to victory in the Foothill Stakes on opening day, was spotted after that race with a mutuel ticket of an undetermined amount cupped in his right hand. When asked what he was clutching, Valenzuela replied, “Dinner money.”

Milady’s Knight, who went off at 69-1 in the 13th race, rewarded those who stayed to the end to bet on him with a $140.40 payoff. His photo-finish victory over Fortunate Answer in the six-furlong race keyed a triple that paid $2,130.90 and a trifecta that paid $16,149.