Mo Forza, United Look to Defend Titles at Santa Anita

In last year's edition of the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T), Mo Forza  launched a powerful four-wide move into the stretch and swept by the leaders for a 1 3/4-length victory in a time only a few ticks off the Santa Anita Park course record.

That performance, in addition to his stroll in last year's Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T), was enough to put the Bardy Farm and OG Boss color bearer among the favorites for the 2020 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by the PDJF (G1T). But two weeks before the Mile, a minor injury forced the son of Uncle Mo to the sidelines as Order of Australia  led a European trifecta under the wire Breeders' Cup day.

"What happened is just bad timing," said trainer Pete Miller after Mo Forza's withdrawal from the 2020 Mile. "I think he's the best turf miler in the world and I'm disappointed he won't be able to prove it."

Perhaps this year Mo Forza will get his chance.

Returning from a 10-month layoff in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Mile, Mo Forza eked out a gritty score over California grade 1 winners Smooth Like Strait  and Hit the Road . The 5-year-old returned to the work tab two weeks after the race and has trained forwardly since his valiant effort, giving Miller confidence coming into the $200,000 City of Hope Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.

"(Mo Forza) should move forward off his last race since he's training better than he was for the Del Mar Mile," Miller said. "When he's on and he's himself, I still think he's the best turf miler in the world. From the standpoint of (speed) figures, he is."

Mo Forza is a homebred for the late Barry Abrams, who campaigned as Bardy Farm. The longtime horseman passed away Oct. 9, 2020, at the age of 66, six days after Mo Forza's City of Hope win.

"Barry was one of a kind," Miller said. "He was a true racetrack character and a great guy. Everyone loved him and Mo Forza kept him going. It was an honor that he chose me to train him."

The co-highweight at 126 in Saturday's expected field of 5, Mo Forza carries a record of 7-3-1 from 13 trips to the post into the City of Hope. Regular rider Flavien Prat, who guided Mo Forza to the winner's circle after his last three starts, will retain the mount.

The six-time graded stakes winner earned grade 1 status in the 2019 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar.

Cannon Thoroughbreds' Smooth Like Strait, the likely pacesetter Saturday, will be back to avenge his head loss to Mo Forza in the Del Mar Mile. A picture of consistency throughout his 17-start career, the Michael McCarthy trainee led wire to wire in the May 31 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) over the Santa Anita turf course.

Another player on the Southern California turf circuit is the More Than Ready   colt Hit the Road. The 4-year-old gave trainer Dan Blacker the first grade 1 win of his career when he prevailed over Smooth Like Strait in the March 6 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T). Hit the Road was a troubled third behind the top two in the Del Mar Mile after encountering traffic problems in deep stretch.

Recent allowance level winners Red Storm Risen  and Order and Law  complete the field.

Entries: City of Hope Mile S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 02, 2021, Race 3

• Grade IIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 1:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Red Storm Risen (ON)	Joe Bravo	122	Philip D'Amato	12/1
2	2Mo Forza (KY)	Flavien Prat	126	Peter Miller	6/5
3	3Hit the Road (KY)	Florent Geroux	124	Dan Blacker	3/1
4	4Order and Law (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Michael J. Maker	8/1
5	5Smooth Like Strait (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	126	Michael W. McCarthy	8/5

Later on the card, hard-knocking 6-year-old gelding United will attempt to defend his title in the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/4-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and older. The LNJ Foxwoods' runner scored a handy victory in last year's John Henry Turf en route to a start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). A year after his heartbreaking head loss to Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar  in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf, United could fair no better than eighth in the 2020 edition.

The turf route specialist has won 2 of 4 starts this year, grabbing wins in the San Luis Rey (G3T) and Eddie Read (G2T) stakes, the latter victory coming over City of Hope Mile contender Smooth Like Strait. Trained by Richard Mandella, United will be ridden by Prat, who has partnered the gelding in his past 15 starts.

"We’ve been a bit unlucky with United in some of his earlier races," said trainer Richard Mandella. "Hopefully, our luck will be coming,

In his most recent effort, United was nosed out for third by California-bred Acclimate  in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T). A multiple graded stakes winner, the Philip D'Amato pupil was second in this race in 2019. Acclimate earned his fifth win in 11 starts on the Santa Anita lawn when he led every step and cruised to a 3 3/4-length tally in the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) June 19.

An intriguing horse in the John Henry is the former Chad Brown trainee, Master Piece . Owned by Fernando Diaz-Valdes, Baalbek Corp., and Don Alberto Stable, the Chilean-bred began his 5-year-old season with a Keeneland allowance win in April before finishing off the board in two subsequent grade 1 tries. Sent out west to the barn of Michael McCarthy, the Mastercraftsman  ridgling made an auspicious California debut, rallying from well off the pace to get up for second in the Del Mar Handicap. 

Entries: John Henry Turf Championship S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 02, 2021, Race 11

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/4m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Award Winner (KY)	Kyle Frey	126	David E. Hofmans	12/1
2	2Camino Del Paraiso (CA)	Abel Cedillo	124	O. J. Jauregui	15/1
3	3Neptune's Storm (KY)	Florent Geroux	124	Peter Miller	6/1
4	4United (KY)	Flavien Prat	126	Richard E. Mandella	5/2
5	5Ready Soul (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Philip D'Amato	12/1
6	6Acclimate (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	124	Philip D'Amato	9/2
7	7Master Piece (CHI)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Michael W. McCarthy	5/1
8	8Count of Amazonia (IRE)	Victor Espinoza	122	Richard Baltas	12/1
9	9Media Blitz (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Simon Callaghan	20/1
10	10Red King (KY)	Joe Bravo	122	Philip D'Amato	15/1
11	11Cupid's Claws (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Peter Miller	12/1
12	12Friar's Road (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	Michael W. McCarthy	15/1
13	13K P All Systems Go (NY)	Tyler Baze	122	Jeff Mullins	20/1