Midlantic-breds in Saratoga Stakes July 18 * The Racing Biz

Midlantic-breds in Saratoga Stakes July 18

Joseph Aiello
July 17, 2025

Friday’s card at the Spa features the Grade II Shuvee Stakes in race eight run at nine furlongs on the dirt. For older fillies and mares, this race has been used as an early stepping stone for those aiming at the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in the fall. Last year’s winner, Raging Sea, returns to defend her Shuvee title after following up her win with a place finish to Thorpedo Anna in the Distaff in November. A formidable opponent in a solid field of seven, Raging Sea enters as the even money morning line favorite and will be a big challenge for the outside breaking Maryland bred Malibu Beauty.

A seven year old mare with forty-four lifetime starts, Malibu Beauty enters with more than double the tries of any runner in this field. By Buffum – Slow and Steady, by Malibu Moon, this Gary Capuano trainee typically competes at Laurel Park with some stakes tries at Delaware mixed in. She enters off a gate to wire win in the Obeah Stakes at Delaware, and figures to be right on the lead in this one with Dazzling Move who breaks to her immediate inside. Malibu Beauty has done her best running with forward trips, making the jockey switch to the usually aggressive Kendrick Carmouche a perfect match here. Even with so many starts, Malibu Beauty has only two tries at a mile and one eighth, typically topping out at a mile and a sixteenth. With this step up in class and slight stretch out in distance, it may be difficult for her to hold on and win in this spot. Even if she is run down by more talented horses, Malibu Beauty’s thirty finishes in the money demonstrate her remarkable consistency and give her a good chance to hit the board in only her second graded try. Entering at morning line odds of 12/1, Malibu Beauty is owned by Elliot Campbell and trainer Gary Capuano and was bred by ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable.