Megahertz a prime bounce-back opportunity for Public Assembly, Vibez

ARCADIA, Calif. – Horses sometimes lose because of bad trips, other times they get outrun by better rivals. Both apply in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The main entrants in the filly-mare turf mile benefit by more favorable conditions than in off-the-board finishes last out. Public Assembly broke tardily, fell too far behind a slow pace, and finished fifth in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel. Vibez was too far up in class and finished eighth in the Grade 1 Matriarch.

Circumstances change Saturday in the $100,000 Megahertz, race 7. Late-running favorite Public Assembly, a Grade 3 winner, gets pace to flatter her rally. Vibez, a restricted stakes winner, gets class relief dropping two grades. The pair is more evenly matched than their program odds of 5-2 and 9-2.

The Megahertz also includes Princesa Moche, a sharp mare from Peru who continues to outrun her odds in the U.S., and Will Then, an early stakes winner whose development has stalled. If late-runner Public Assembly wins the Megahertz, she will do it with a different trip than last out.

Finishing off the board as the 7-10 favorite in the Frankel, Public Assembly broke slowly, was not asked for speed, and found herself trailing through fractions of 50.93 and 1:15.72.

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“We lost our race at the start,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Her style is not to be dead last off a dawdling pace. She’s more of a stalker, midpack filly.”

D’Amato is looking for a different trip with Public Assembly’s new rider, Hector Berrios.

“Hopefully a better break, and just be more tactical,” D’Amato explained.

Public Assembly has won 3 of 12, including the Grade 3 Royal Heroine last spring at Santa Anita.

D’Amato’s second Megahertz entrant is 4-for-12 stakes winner Sigh No More, previously based in the East and making her first start for D’Amato after a private purchase.

“She’s trained very well. [Kazushi] Kimura breezed her the last month or so. He rides,” D’Amato said. “She’s kept good company back East, so we’re going to try her on a little firmer ground.”

Vibez is qualified to win the Megahertz despite a next-to-last finish in the Matriarch two months ago at Del Mar. Trainer Peter Eurton knew Vibez was up against it after winning a restricted stakes.

“The only excuse I can find is the Grade 1 competition,” Eurton said. “She was 20-1 in [the Matriarch], and it was a humongous jump in class.”

Vibez pressed the pace and backed up.

“She’s trained well since,” Eurton said. “Her weight’s good, her appetite’s good, she’s moving well. I’m hoping to rebound and get another stakes win for her.”

Juan Hernandez, who rode Vibez to victory two starts back in the Swingtime Stakes at Del Mar, regains the mount. Vibez has won 4 of 15.

Princesa Moche stretches out as the potential pacesetter after she set the pace and finished second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas, a hillside sprint. Doug O’Neill trains the 11-for-38 Peruvian mare, who won a second-level turf allowance at a mile two starts back at Del Mar. Mirco Demuro rides.

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