Malibu Mint Springs to TCA Stakes Success

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Grade I winner Malibu Mint angled six wide coming off the turn and closed impressively under strong urging from jockey Kyle Kaenel to register a one-length victory in the $300,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) for fillies and mares at Keeneland Saturday.

The field of eight fillies and mares included the 9-10 favorite Behaving Badly who tired in the stretch and finished fourth.

The winning 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Malibu Moon   fell back to seventh in traffic on the turn and then rallied in the six-furlong sprint completed in time of 1:08 3/5 on a fast track.

She won for the seventh time in 22 career starts while increasing her lifetime earnings to $690,829 for owners John and Martha Jane Mulholland.

Hide and Chic, the leader midstretch under Eddie Castro, held on for second, a length in front of third-place Hot Storm and Garrett Gomez. Behaving Badly, who had won six of her seven previous starts, was beaten by 2 ½ lengths. Maryfield, Bluesbdancing, Play Ballado and Maggie Jordan trailed.

Maggie Jordan led for the opening quarter mile in :22 1/5, before settling behind Hot Storm and Behaving Badly, who dueled through the half in :44 4/5.

Trained by James Chapman, Malibu Mint added the TCA Stakes to previous wins this year in the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder and the Weekend Delight Stakes at Turfway Park.

The winner carried co-high weight of 124 pounds and paid $9.20, $4.80, and $4 as the second choice. Hide and Chic returned $10.20 and $5.60. Hot Storm was $5.80 to show.

(Chart, Equibase)

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