PLEASANTON, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2024) – After losing a photo by a neck to fellow California-bred Drop Um, Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Mala was moved up by disqualification and declared the official winner of Sunday’s $75,000 Bay Meadows Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at Pleasanton.
Mala is by Union Rags, out of the Smart Strike mare Witchy One, was bred by Carliwood Farms, is owned by Greg Avery and trained by Steve Sherman.
The $40,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale — which was held at Pleasanton — out of the Easterbrook Livestock Management consignment has two wins in five starts, earnings of $77,903 and was coming off a second in a Nov. 17 optional claimer.
Mala ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.98 at odds of 14-1. Drop Um was placed second by stewards for interference in the stretch and Accidental Genuis was third in a field of seven that included 4-5 favorite Kalea Bay, the Bob Baffert-trainee that was eased from the race and walked off.