Mucho Unusual Digs In for Megahertz Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Mucho Unusual wins the Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Despite being fanned wide as she entered the stretch, Mucho Unusual dug in with encouragement from jockey Joel Rosario to make up for traveling extra ground and fended off a strong bid from late-running Sedamar to win the $98,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) Jan. 18 at Santa Anita Park.
The one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares was the second consecutive win for George Krikorian's California homebred, who cut back from winning at 1 1/8 miles in the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) Dec. 27.
"She's super honest, we're excited to have her in the stable, (it's been) just a great ride," said winning trainer Tim Yakteen. "It was sort of the way the schedule came up. We were thinking about keeping her at a mile and one eighth, mile and a quarter; unfortunately, there really wasn't anything coming up until the end of March, so we thought we would take advantage of a lighter field. It didn't look like it was heavily subscribed, she was training absolutely fantastic, so we thought we'd take advantage of it."
The 5-year-old Mucho Macho Man mare also won the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) back in September at Santa Anita. Yakteen said he will probably look at the Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) March 27 over the same course and distance for her next start.
Chilean import Brooke showed the way under regular jockey Jeremey Laprida in the four-horse Megahertz as Mucho Unusual stalked in second on the outside. Colonial Creed chased in third and Sedamar took her time in fourth. Opening quarter-mile fractions went in :23.78, :48, and 1:12.55.
As the field rounded the turn for home, Brooke shifted far out from the rail and took Mucho Unusual with her. Umberto Rispoli was gearing up Sedamar for a run and had to alter her path five wide. Brooke shifted back in near the three-sixteenths pole and bumped Colonial Creed, who was checked by Flavien Prat.
Mucho Unusual took over at the top of the stretch but was challenged by Sedamar. Under right-handed urging, she prevailed to win by three-quarters of a length and paid $2.80 for a $2 win ticket as the favorite. The final time on the firm turf was 1:35.89.
"I just got a good break. I went to the first turn and it looked like the one horse (Brooke) really wanted to go to the lead, so I just waited behind that one a little bit," Rosario said. "This horse is really good. She was able to come out really far and just hang on. It was amazing. Thank you to the team and to George (Krikorian) for the opportunity."
Sedamar crossed the wire another half-length in front of Brooke and Colonial Creed was last across the line after being checked. Following an inquiry, stewards placed Colonial Creed third and disqualified Brooke and placed her last for shifting in and causing Colonial Creed to check past the three-sixteenths pole. Ippodamia's Girl and Lucky Peridot were scratched.
Mucho Unusual is out of the Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual and is a half sister to grade 3 winner, grade 1-placed Big Score. Since Mucho Unusual, Not Unusual has produced the 3-year-old Mr. Big gelding Big Talker who was second in a Jan. 8 maiden special weight at Santa Anita, a 2-year-old Mr. Big filly, and a Kitten's Joy colt last year after which she was reported bred to Uncle Mo .
From 19 career starts, Mucho Unusual has collected a 7-3-4 record and earned $822,715.