Light workload doesn't stop Mokat

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mokat had only two works in the month prior to the $201,725 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Del Mar on Saturday. That was all she needed.

Mokat won her first start since May in the Grade 2 San Clemente and is being pointed to the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Mokat finished 13th in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6 and was turned out for 30 days following that race. She returned to training in June and had workouts July 3 and July 12 for the San Clemente.

Mokat closed from eighth in a field of 10 to win the one-mile San Clemente by 3 3/4 lengths.

“I always wanted to get her back on grass,” Baltas said. “I know she’s better on grass.”

By Uncle Mo, Mokat has won 2 of 9 starts and earned $285,040 for John Manni’s JK Racing. The San Clemente was her first stakes win. She was second in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on turf last November and second to the undefeated champion Songbird in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on dirt at Santa Anita last April.