Mandella Eyes Two in a Row in Malibu Stakes

The last trainer to win the $250,000 Malibu Stakes, the traditional opening-day feature for Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, two times in a row was the late Charlie Whittingham. The all-time leader at Santa Anita with 869 victories and 204 stakes wins, Whittingham won with Banner Bob in 1985 and the following year with Ferdinand.

Another Hall of Famer, Richard Mandella, has a chance to match Whittingham’s feat when he sends out a pair in the 54th Malibu. Mandella, who won the 2004 renewal with Rock Hard Ten, will be represented by Osidy and Unbridled Energy in the Grade I for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

A son of Storm Cat owned by breeder B. Wayne Hughes, Osidy will be making his main track debut. He has won three of 10 on the turf, including the Will Rogers, a Grade III, on May 28 at Hollywood Park. The Malibu will be his first appearance since he finished fourth in the Oak Tree Derby on Oct. 15.

A gray son of Unbridled’s Song, Unbridled Energy will be making his first start for Mandella and first since finishing last for former trainer Elliott Walden in the Ohio Derby on July 2.

Race of the day: Chinese Dragon will try to remain unbeaten on the Santa Anita turf as grass racing returns to the local circuit in the first division of the $75,000-added Sir Beaufort Stakes today at Santa Anita.

One for the road: Trickey Trevor, who has won 16 of 31, will seek his third win in a row and first on the grass when he takes on five others in the $75,000 Holiday Turf Handicap, the opening-day feature at Bay Meadows. Russell Baze will ride Trickey Trevor, a 6-year-old Demaloot Demashoot horse for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who co-owns the Florida bred with Dan Jelladian. The race is at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Cindago in the sixth; Eastern Sand, Tedo, Ticafic and Railroad in the seventh; the Osidy entry and Attila’s Storm in the eighth; and Blue Steller, Reel’ Em In, Devil Badgett and Austin Barber in the ninth.