Megahertz best in Honeymoon

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two hours after Medaglia d'Oro was narrowly beaten in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Bobby Frankel found a minor consolation when Megahertz rallied in the stretch to win the $164,050 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Stuck behind fillies until midstretch, Megahertz made up two lengths in final sixteenth to deny Arabic Song by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela for owner Michael Bello, Megahertz ($4.60) ran 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:51.97.

Frankel watched from the tack room at his Belmont Park stable.

"She's got a great turn of foot," he said. "She's a special filly."

Megahertz was at the back of the field for the first seven furlongs, racing along the rail. Pacesetter Red Little Lies led until early stretch, but was passed by High Society and then Arabic Song. Megahertz emerged between those two in the final 100 yards to take a late lead.

Arabic Song finished a half-length in front of High Society in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies. Always Country was scratched due to illness.

Megahertz is unbeaten in four starts this year, but the Grade 2 Honeymoon was her first score in a graded stakes. Frankel deliberately held her out of the Senorita Stakes last month following a win in the Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 13.

A winner of 5 of 12 starts and $264,646, Megahertz will return in the $500,000 American Oaks on July 6, Frankel said.