Mo Forza returns with dominant victory in Del Mar Mile
DEL MAR, Calif. – A dazzling comeback victory by Mo Forza on Sunday at Del Mar stamped the lightly raced colt as the top prospect from California aiming to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Mo Forza ($4.40) crushed the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile by 4 1/4 lengths in a blazing 1:33.27, fastest turf mile of the meet and a performance that even surprised his trainer, Peter Miller.
“That gave me goose pimples,” Miller said. “I was just hoping I had him tight enough and ready to perform.”
Miller had Mo Forza more than ready for his first start in seven months, and Flavien Prat gave the colt a flawless ride to win clear over runner-up Restrainedvengence. Royal Ship, a Group 1 winner from Brazil making his U.S. debut, finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Mo Forza’s owners are former trainer Barry Abrams and his wife, Dyan, who race as Bardy Farm, and Onofrio Pecoraro. Abrams has battled throat cancer, making it an emotional victory for Miller.
“To win one for my good friend Barry Abrams and Onofrio, it really means a lot,” Miller said.
The victory by Mo Forza was his fifth from 11 starts, first against older winners, and first without wearing blinkers. Mo Forza won three graded stakes for 3-year-olds last season – the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in fall at Del Mar, sandwiched between a pair of Grade 2s at Santa Anita. After he misfired in a January race at Gulfstream Park, Mo Forza was ready for a rest.
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“He was just tired and needed a break,” Miller said. As in seven months. As he neared his comeback, Miller decided to remove the blinkers he had worn for most of his 2019 campaign.
“He had a tendency to great rank in his races last year and wanted to run over horses,” Miller said. “We didn’t want that problem again this year. If it didn’t work out, I’m going to look like an idiot.”
It turned out to be a smart move. Mo Forza settled comfortably in midpack while two kamikaze pacesetters blazed a half-mile in 45.89 seconds and six furlongs in 1:09.69. Mo Forza was always running comfortably, and when Prat asked him the question, Mo Forza answered.
“When I asked him to, he really responded,” Prat said.
The win was Prat’s third of the Sunday card, all for Miller, who leads the meet with 18 wins. Prat’s three-bagger pulled him to within two of Umberto Rispoli, who rode one winner Sunday. Rispoli leads Prat 36-34.
Miller said the autumn goal for Mo Forza is the BC Mile, with one start in in the interim.
After the top three, the order of finish was Bob and Jackie, Galilean, Overdue, Bombard, Kiwi’s Dream, and Dreams of Valor.