Mo Forza Surges to Del Mar Mile Win Off Layoff
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Mo Forza wins the Del Mar Mile at Del Mar
Bardy Farm and OG Boss' Mo Forza showed no indication he had been away for seven months when he darted through a spot on the rail and drew away to win the $152,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T) Aug. 23 at Del Mar.
"That gave me goose pimples. I was just hoping I had him tight enough and ready to perform," trainer Peter Miller said. "These were a good group of horses, but he's exceptional. To see this horse back in the winner's circle is really exciting. He had a tendency to get rank in his races last year and wanted to run over horses, so we thought we didn't want that problem this year, so we took the blinkers off. He's been working without them, and I thought that if it doesn't work out, I'm going to look like an idiot, but thank goodness it worked out. We think the Breeders' Cup will definitely be the end of the year with one race in between."
The Uncle Mo colt broke his maiden in his sixth outing last season after debuting in June, then rattled off victories in the Qatar Twilight Derby (G2T), Hollywood Derby (G1T), and Mathis Brother Mile Stakes (G2T). He made his 4-year-old debut Jan. 25 in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) but showed no kick, finishing ninth as the third choice.
Back in action for the first time Sunday, and back to his Southern California setting, Mo Forza was off a bit slow under jockey Flavien Prat. He was sixth early, traveling a bit off the rail, as Dreams of Valor led through the first quarter-mile in :22.59. Kiwi's Dream then stuck his head in front to run a half-mile in :45.84, and the two frontrunners opened on the field by five lengths. The field was closing in as three-quarters went in 1:09.69.
With Mo Forza kicking into high gear, Prat bid inside the leader and angled his mount toward the rail. The bay colt surged clear at the eighth pole and rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory. He completed the mile on firm turf in 1:33.27 and returned $4.40 as the favorite.
The Del Mar Mile was the third race Miller and Prat paired up to win Sunday.
"Peter and I talked before the race, and we noted that there looked like a lot of speed in the race. That turned out true," Prat said. "He told me he took his blinkers off and he was hoping for the best. I had a good trip; my horse was relaxed. Then when I say, 'Go,' he had a really strong response."
Restrainedvengence got up for second, a head in front of Royal Ship, who rallied from last of nine. Bob and Jackie made a late run for fourth.
Sharp Samurai, who was second in the 2018-19 Del Mar Mile, scratched from this year's running for the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) a day earlier on the main track. He finished second in the Pacific Classic behind champion Maximum Security.
Mo Forza, foaled in Kentucky, is a homebred for former trainer and breeder Barry Abrams, who is home battling cancer. The colt is owned in partnership with Onofrio Pecoraro.
He is the first foal produced from the Unusual Heat mare Inflamed, a sister to grade 2 winner Burns and grade 1-placed Brushburn. His 2019 success helped his dam sell for $525,000 to Shadai Farm, which purchased her in foal to Tapiture from Glen Hill Farm at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. After delivering the Tapiture filly in Kentucky, Inflamed was bred back to Uncle Mo.
Mo Forza has a 5-3-1 record from 11 starts and has earned $614,460.