Desert of Malibu highlights Suckoo hat trick

Lightweight claiming rider Tajay Suckoo completed a hat trick of wins yesterday by booting home Houston Stables’ American, DESERT OF MALIBU, in the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, overpowering local-bred CALIFORNIA CROWN in the six-furlong sprint for open-allowance runners.
DESERT OF MALIBU, a proven grade-one runner, won at odds of 7-1, turning tables on third-place DON KWESI, CALIFORNIA CROWN, and MIGHTY GULLY, behind whom she had finished fifth when highly fancied to win at five furlongs round on May 30.  
Though placing in three consecutive grade-one races at the back end of last season – second to RIDEALLDAY in the Port Royal Sprint, third behind OF A REVOLUTION in the Bruceontheloose Sprint and second to Mouttet Mile runner-up LEGACY ISLE in the Chris Armond Sprint – DESERT OF MALIBU reported two classes lower on a conditions bye in April to trample overnight-allowance runners at short odds of 3-5.
Expected to similarly dominate open-allowance rivals in her May 30 follow-up race, as she had done last July when winning by seven lengths on her way back to grade one, even-money choice DESERT OF MALIBU surrendered a speed duel to favourite CALIFORNIA CROWN, who was afterwards cut down by DON KWESI close to home.
Returning at a king’s ransom of 7-1 yesterday, DESERT OF MALIBU effortlessly tracked CALIFORNIA CROWN from against the rail, Suckoo unperturbed when the leader’s stablemate, DOTHRAKI, inched into second on her outside coming off the home turn.
Switched between horses early in the stretch run, DESERT OF MALIBU overpowered a rallying CALIFORNIA CROWN, winning by a half-length in 1:10.2, closing Suckoo’s hat trick started by RUN JULIE RUN in the Mark My Word Trophy before a 14-1 upset win astride MOHANLAL in the Wayne DaCosta Trophy at a mile.
Suckoo’s hat trick moved him to 38 winners, sitting fourth in the riders’ standings behind Raddesh Roman on 58, Tevin Foster, 48, and Dane Dawkins on 40.
Racing continues next weekend with the return of the $10-million Diamond Mile for grade-one horses, a win-and-you’re-in for December’s Mouttet Mile.
Saturday’s Reggae 6 will feature a mandatory payout, opening at $14 million after no punter was able to spot all six winners on a tough day for bettors with only one winning favourite, DRONE STRIKE, who landed the fourth at odds of 9-5 with Roman.