Gender Agenda faces big field in Megahertz Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gender Agenda, Stormy Lucy, and Glory were separated by a neck when they swept the first three positions in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. The close result of the race is an accurate reflection on California’s female turf division.

Since the start of 2015, 12 fillies or mares have won the 13 graded turf stakes for females at Del Mar and Santa Anita. It seems that anyone can win such a race, which makes backing Gender Agenda in Monday’s $100,000 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita seem like a risky proposition.

Gender Agenda, Stormy Lucy, and Glory are among the 14 fillies and mares entered in the Grade 3 Megahertz. The race will have a safety limit of 12 starters, which leaves Oscar Party and My Year Is a Day on the also-eligible list.

Aside from Gender Agenda and Stormy Lucy, who won the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar in November, there are four other stakes winners in the main body of the field – Alexis Tangier, Circling, Beat of The Drum, and Theatre Star.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stormy Lucy (Last 3 Beyers: 92-99-91)

◗ Stormy Lucy, who was a neck behind Gender Agenda and a nose in front of Glory in the Frankel, was nominated for the Megahertz in a late decision, according to trainer Ed Moger Jr.

“I wasn’t looking at the race, but she’s training so good,” Moger said.

◗ Stormy Lucy won two turf stakes at Santa Anita in the spring of 2014 – the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap at 1 1/4 miles. She was equally effective in the one-mile Matriarch, closing from eighth of 14 to score a 65-1 upset.

“We’ve been thinking that she wants to go farther, but sometimes they go quick when they go a mile,” Moger said. “In the longer races, they do a slow pace, and it’s hard to make up ground.”

◗ Owned by Steve Moger, Ed’s brother, Stormy Lucy, 7, was nearly retired in late 2015 but will stay in training this year.

Gender Agenda (Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-92)

◗ Gender Agenda raced near a slow pace in the Frankel and was fully extended to hold the lead under jockey Rafael Bejarano. For the Megahertz, Gender Agenda will be ridden by Tyler Baze, who has ridden the mare five times, including a win in an optional claimer at Del Mar in September. Bejarano is booked to ride Chaulk O Lattey, who was stakes-placed last fall for trainer Richard Baltas.

◗ Gender Agenda typically races as a stalker, which could be vital in the Megahertz to avoid potential trouble in a large field.

Glory (Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-88)

◗ Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Glory has yet to win a stakes in four attempts. Last year, she was second in the California Oaks on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields and third in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on dirt here.

◗ In three starts on turf, Glory has won two optional claimers and was narrowly beaten in the Frankel. Mike Smith was aboard for those races and has the mount Monday.

“Mike thinks she’s better on turf,” Hollendorfer said.