Mo Forza rested and ready for Del Mar Mile

Mo Forza began 2020 with a ninth-place finish in the nation’s toughest wintertime turf race, the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January. The loss ended a four-race winning streak, including three stakes, and led to a layoff that ends in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf.

The $150,000 Del Mar Mile is worth a fraction of the $1 million Pegasus, but has drawn a competitive field in its own right.

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Several of the 11 entrants in the Del Mar Mile could start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, although most need substantial improvement to merit the journey.

The race is unlikely to have 11 runners. Sharp Samurai, a multiple stakes winner who was second in the 2019 Del Mar Mile, is “most likely” to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic, trainer Mark Glatt said Friday.

Mo Forza, trained by Peter Miller for the partnership of Bardy Farms and OG Boss, was a maiden at this time last year. After winning his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita last November, Mo Forza won two stakes in December – the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar and the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita. Those races were for 3-year-olds.

A winner of 4 of 10 starts, Mo Forza could not overcome a wide trip in the Pegasus Turf, Miller said Friday.

“He had a horrendous trip that day,” Miller said. “He had no chance. I don’t think that is all indicative of how he’ll fare against older horses.”

Mo Forza was rested after the loss at Gulfstream Park and resumed workouts in early June.

“We felt like he had done enough and needed a break and deserved a break,” Miller said.

The recent workouts include a mile on turf in 1:42 on Aug. 9 and five furlongs on dirt from the gate in 59.60 seconds on Aug. 16.

“We’ve worked him a lot,” Miller said. “We feel confident he’s fit and ready to run his ‘A’ game.”

Flavien Prat, who rode Mo Forza without success in maiden races last summer, regains the mount. Mo Forza is likely to race as a stalker.

“I’d say he’s one of the horses to beat, for sure,” Miller said. “He’s a very good horse.”

Bombard, winner of the 2019 Wickerr Stakes at a mile at Del Mar, is likely to set the pace in his second start of the year. Bombard was beaten a head in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf on July 26.

“I think he’ll be tough to catch,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

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There are four stakes winners in the field looking for their first win in a graded race – Bob and Jackie, Galilean, Restrainedvengence, and The Black Album. Kiwi’s Dream has been third in his last three starts and has yet to win a stakes. Each of those runners is capable of a top-three finish with his best effort.

The Del Mar Mile will be the American debut of Royal Ship, a Group 1 stakes winner in Brazil at a mile on turf in February who has won his last five races and is well regarded by Mandella.

Bob and Jackie, who won the Wickerr Stakes on July 11 in his first start of 2020, drew the outside post and will race as a stalker. In the Wickerr Stakes at a mile, Bob and Jackie won by a neck over a stubborn rival in Kiwi’s Dream, closing from third in a field of nine under jockey Heriberto Figueroa.

“I thought he rode the horse really well last time,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “The horse has a lot of natural speed, but he relaxed well. He had plenty of time since he ran and he’s come back real well.”