Mo Forza a candidate for Hollywood Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mo Forza won his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in an 18-1 upset. The win has left trainer Peter Miller eager to start Mo Forza in a more important race – the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

The Hollywood Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, is one of two Grade 1 races worth $300,000 at the Del Mar autumn meeting, which begins on Friday. The Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf will be run on Dec. 1, the closing day of the season.

Mo Forza, who races for Bardy Farm and OG Boss, stalked the pace to early stretch in the $202,106 Twilight Derby and pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Succeedandsurpass. Mo Forza has won 2 of 7 starts.

A colt by Uncle Mo, Mo Forza beat maidens in his sixth start at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, having finished second, third, or fourth in his previous starts since his debut on June 2. At the Del Mar summer meeting, Mo Forza was beaten a half-length in a maiden special weight race on July 27 and by a nose in a similar race on Aug. 31.

“It was maturity,” Miller said of the difference. “You can’t force them. He was always very talented, but he pulled himself up, had bad trips, and lost a head bob.”

Miller finished the Santa Anita autumn meeting on Sunday with 10 wins from 47 starters, ranking fifth in the trainer standings. Miller, 53, finished second in the trainer’s standings at the Del Mar summer meeting with 24 wins, three less than leader Doug O’Neill.

Miller said last weekend that O’Neill will be difficult to beat at the 15-day Del Mar autumn meeting.

“I don’t think I have enough horses,” he said. “Doug probably has twice the number I have.”

Miller said he has 60 horses based at San Luis Rey Downs trainer center near Del Mar and 25 in Kentucky.

“Hopefully we’ll have a good win percentage,” Miller said.

There are plans for stakes horses through the season. For Friday’s opening day, Painting Corners will start in the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, while Leucothea is scheduled to run in Sunday’s $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

Om, second in the BC Turf Sprint on Saturday, may run in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Nov. 30.

Aside from Mo Forza, Gray Magician could have his turf debut in the Hollywood Derby. He was scratched from the Twilight Derby because of illness.

“I think this is a minor illness,” Miller said.

Miller added that Billy Batts, second in Friday’s BC Juvenile Turf at 55-1, is a candidate for the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf on Dec. 1.

“We should have quite a few for the turf races,” Miller said.