Mckinzie and Dream Tree lead Grade 1 Santa Anita charge for Bob Baffett

Mckinzie will bid to put his Breeders' Cup Classic defeat behind him in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Wednesday, when he heads trainer Bob Baffert's five runners.

The three-year-old was sent off favourite at Churchill Downs a month ago but beat only two rivals when 31 lengths behind Accelerate and drops back to seven furlongs in California.

Baffert, quoted by TDN, said: "He's worked really nice and is doing really well. I freshened him up a little after the Breeders’ Cup, and, in retrospect, he wasn’t ready to go a mile and a quarter but I thought I had him back.

"The Breeders’ Cup took me out of my normal programme. It’s a lot of money and it seemed right, but he just didn’t show up. I like the way he’s training here."

Stablemate Solomini finished first past the post in a Grade 1 against Mckinzie only to be disqualified for interference – he has not been too far away on four starts this season and is 6-1 second-favourite with bet365 behind 3-1 shot Mckinzie.

Baffert has two runners, including the exciting filly Dream Tree, in the other Grade 1 on the card, the La Brea Stakes. The three-year-old is undefeated in four starts and seeks a first top-level prize at Santa Anita.

She faces a competitive field, including the Wesley Ward-trained Happy Like A Fool, who finished second to Heartache in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.

Malibu Stakes (Wednesday)

Bet365: 3 Mckinzie, 6 Solomini, 13-2 Axelrod, Kanthaka, 7 Copper Bullet, 15-2 Ax Man, 8 Identity Politics, 10 Nero, 16 Seven Trumpets, 20 Still Having Fun, Super Sol, 25 Bobby's Wicked One, Cool Bobby, 33 Majestic Dunhill, Greyvitos, 50 Calexman

La Brea Stakes (Wednesday)

Bet365: 4-7 Dream Tree, 11-2 Emboldened, 7 Happy Like A Fool, 8 Spiced Perfection, 20 Kelly’s Humor, 25 Hot Autumn, Mo See Cal, 33 Cathedral Reader, Heavenhasmynikki

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