Mo Forza heads strong group in City of Hope Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – If the 16-year drought since a California horse won a Breeders’ Cup Mile ends this fall at Keeneland, it may hinge on what happens Saturday at Santa Anita.

Mo Forza, whose dazzling 1:33.27 mile was the most impressive turf performance of the Del Mar summer season, makes the second start of his campaign as the favorite in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile. This year’s field came up strong, for a welcome change.

The City of Hope – formerly known as the Oak Tree Mile – slipped from prominence after 1999-2001 winners Silic, War Chant, and Val Royal wheeled back to win the BC Mile. And following the 2004 BC Mile win by City of Hope third-place finisher Singletary, the race went dry.

That could change this fall. Mo Forza, Sharp Samurai, and Royal Ship enter the City of Hope with legit BC aspirations. Sharp Samurai, 2018 City of Hope winner, has returned to form, and Royal Ship is a Group 1 winner from Brazil who was “given” a race in his U.S. debut. Restrainedvengence, Majestic Eagle, Blitzkrieg, and Bob and Jackie complete the field.

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The race centers on Mo Forza, who romped in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23 in his first since January. It was no fluke. Mo Forza won three graded stakes last year. Based on the comeback, in which he smoked his final quarter in 22.95 seconds, Mo Forza is better this year.

Peter Miller trains Mo Forza for former trainer Barry Abrams and his wife, Dyan, who race as Bardy Farm and bred Mo Forza. He is co-owned by Onofrio Pecoraro.

Mo Forza had a minor setback after his comeback race, according to Miller.

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“He did get a little colicky on us, so he did miss a work,” he said. “But he hasn’t missed a beat since, so we feel very confident. He should be every bit as good, maybe better” than in his comeback.

The colic episode occurred a week after he ran, and Mo Forza was over it in short order and resumed a normal work pattern in mid-September. Mo Forza and jockey Flavien Prat have the option of rallying from far back, or pressing likely pacesetter Blitzkrieg.

Mo Forza “is not pace-dependent,” Miller said.

“If they fly, he’ll be back a ways,” he said. “If they walk, he’ll be right on top of them.”

Either way, Mo Forza is the one to beat, although a rival he defeated by more than four lengths last out is likely to narrow the gap.

Royal Ship finished third in the Del Mar Mile while making his North American debut and first start in six months. Royal Ship was a Group 1 winner in Brazil, and his trainer, Richard Mandella, and jockey, Mike Smith, were thinking long term for his comeback race.

“A horse like that, I preferred to get him back and finish the first time,” Mandella said. “Having said that, we might have overdone it a little bit because he came running.”

Royal Ship rallied from last to third, running his final quarter-mile in 23.01.

“He ran a real nice race first time, and we’re hoping for more this time,” Mandella said.

Royal Ship is Breeders’ Cup eligible.

“This will be a test,” Mandella said. “It might be time to [run in the BC Mile]. If we’re premature, we’ll back off and let him settle in. He’s still got time to develop.”

Royal Ship was purchased in Brazil by John Fulton for Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farms. He is the latest South American to join Mandella via Fulton, a former trainer. Fulton sent South American imports Indy Point, Bal a Bali, and Jolie Olimpica to Mandella.

Smith and Royal Ship are expected to be closer to the pace Saturday. In winning a Group 1 in his final start in Brazil, Royal Ship pressed the pace from second before drawing away.

Sharp Samurai, runner-up last out in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, was considered for the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile on Saturday at Keeneland, but trainer Mark Glatt opted to stay home.

“He hasn’t won in a while, and we thought the City of Hope was his best chance to win,” Glatt said.

Sharp Samurai’s last win came in the 2018 City of Hope Mile, though he has finished in the money in five of seven graded stakes since. Juan Hernandez rides Sharp Samurai.

Blitzkrieg is likely to set the pace, Restrainedvengence will press. Bob and Jackie will don blinkers and may produce speed. Majestic Eagle is the longest shot in the field. The City of Hope is race 8.

◗ The comebacker Colonial Creed is poised to upset Cordiality earlier in the $70,000 Swingtime Stakes, a restricted turf mile for fillies and mares. Sedamar, Muchly, Meal Ticket, and Donut Girl also entered the Swingtime, race 3.