Mo Forza, United Repeat in Santa Anita Turf Stakes

Mo Forza  came with a strong rally to run down Smooth Like Strait  and capture the $200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T) for the second straight year Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park. It was the fourth consecutive graded win for the 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo  —all under Flavien Prat—and his second since returning from a layoff of more than 10 months in August for Bardy Farm and OG Boss.

The timing of the win was special for the connections. Longtime horseman Barry Abrams of Bardy Farm, who also bred Mo Forza, died last October.

"This horse is continuing Barry's legacy. He means the world to us," said brother David Abrams. "He runs with an angel on his shoulder, I truly believe that. Look at his last two races, that's Barry bringing him home."

The win was also a birthday gift for trainer Peter Miller, who turned 55 Saturday. 

"I was very worried the first minute and 30 seconds. I felt a lot better the last two and a half seconds," Miller said. "The pace was quick in the early going, then it slowed down and then they picked it up again. I didn't have any pre-race instructions for Flavien. I left the plans in Flavien's hands. It is up to him. He knows the horse. If the pace is fast, he'll lay back. If it's a moderate pace, we'll be up close. Our next stop is the Breeders' Cup."

Smooth Like Strait and longshot Red Storm Risen  battled on the lead through fractions of :22.61 and :46.66 for the first half. Mo Forza was last of five at that point with 3 1/4 lengths to make up. Smooth Like Strait shook off a retreating Red Storm Risen to lead by 1 1/2 lengths as he ran three-quarters in 1:08.98. But once Prat tipped out Mo Forza, the bay quickly made up ground on the leader. 

Mo Forza closed for a half-length victory, completing the mile on firm turf in 1:32.45. He paid $3.20 to win on a $2 ticket as the 3-5 favorite.

"It was a bit of an awkward race. First quarter was pretty fast, I felt like it was pretty fast. Then we hit the first turn and slowed down a lot, then we got to the backside and took off again, so it was a bit of an awkward race," Prat said. "After that they all came up to me around the far turn, I was trying to get him together, to regroup and get a good run down the lane and that's what he did. He showed a lot of class today.

"He's definitely one who always gives you everything. He has a great turn of foot and it's always a pleasure riding him. Peter did a great job of bringing him back off a long layoff last time and again today, it was a real pleasure."

Smooth Like Strait held for second by a head over Hit the Road . Red Storm Risen and Order and Law  completed the order of finish.

Mo Forza was bred in Kentucky and is the first foal out of the Unusual Heat mare Inflamed, who dropped a full brother to Mo Forza this year. 

Saturday's victory brought Mo Forza's earnings to $1,034,460. The horse holds an 8-3-1 record from 14 starts.

Video: City of Hope Mile S. (G2T)

United Gets His Nose Down

LNJ Foxwoods' United  made it a close call, but managed to get his nose down to take the $203,500 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) for the second year in a row Saturday at Santa Anita.

Prat piloted the 6-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding to notch his fourth win on the card.

"I thought I got it, but I heard there was a picture, so I guess it was pretty close, closer than I thought," Prat said. "It took me forever to get him up, so I didn't see there was a picture actually. It's always great to win a race prior to the Breeders' Cup and it seems like he's doing great. He always does great actually, and it is really fun to be around him."

United raced in the last two editions of the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), finishing second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks in Mortar in 2019 at Santa Anita. Saturday's win left trainer Richard Mandella happy and confident ahead of another go.

"I didn't think he quite got there. I was accepting second, third, and another good race. But what a great feeling when they said I won," Mandella said. "I always expect it but it doesn't always happen. He couldn't look better, train better, so we expected him to run like he did.

"We'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. He's like part of the family. He's an old gelding, been around a long time. You tend to get to know him as well as you know people. He likes seeing us and we like seeing him."

Acclimate  showed the way with splits of :22.70, :46.32, 1:11.42, and 1:35.01 through the first mile. United was back in eighth 4 1/2 lengths off the leader with a quarter-mile to run. Prat angled his mount five wide and United, with trailer Friar's Road  in close pursuit, got up to claim victory by the narrowest of margins. Acclimate held on for second another nose ahead of Friar's Road in third.

United paid $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite. He completed the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:58.41.

An earner of $1,813,549, United has a record of 10-4-1 in 22 starts. He was purchased by Solis/Litt for $300,000 from the Four Star Sales consignment in 2016 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. Previously he was bought for $240,000 by Glencrest Farm from Trackside Farm's consignment to the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

United was bred by Rosemont Farm in Kentucky out of the Pulling Punches mare Indy Punch. He is a half brother to graded stakes winner Harlan Punch , stakes winner Tensas Punch , and group-placed Royal Navy Ship. Indy Punch's most recent foal is a yearling War Front   colt. The mare was bred to Into Mischief   for 2022.

Video: John Henry Turf Championship S. (G2T)