Mo Fox Givin makes strong upset case in Blue Norther

ARCADIA, Calif. – While the significance of the season’s final turf stakes for California 2-year-olds is uncertain, there is little doubt both $100,000 turf miles Friday at Santa Anita offer attractive wagering opportunities – a longshot filly and a standout colt.

In the race-5 Blue Norther for fillies, unlucky Mo Fox Givin may upset debut winner Medoro and graded dirt winner Chatalas. In the race-7 Eddie Logan, well-bred colt American Hope meets stablemate Miracle Mark and stakes winner Lord Bullingdon. The status of Grade 3 winner Stay Hot is pending.

The Blue Norther and Eddie Logan conclude the California turf-route schedule for foals of 2021. The next turf route stakes for fillies is the $100,000 China Doll on March 10. The $100,000 Pasadena for either gender is March 16.

Nine fillies were entered in the Blue Norther, including surface-switcher Chatalas and Grade 3 turf winner Zona Verde. The upset candidate is Mo Fox Givin, whose recent starts did not go according to plan.

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Mo Fox Givin, a winner at Colonial Downs and runner-up at Churchill Downs, made her West Coast debut for trainer Leonard Powell against colts in a Nov. 3 stakes. “She was a bit too aggressive . . . she did too much early,” Powell said.

Mo Fox Givin pressed the pace and finished third. Her next start was a debacle.

“We rode her a bit too conservatively, and she got in all kinds of trouble,” Powell said. “The replay speaks for itself.”

Mo Fox Givin was rated early, blocked into the stretch, split rivals late, finished well, and galloped out super. She switches Friday to jockey Umberto Rispoli, and could post an upset.

Powell has room for another filly stakes winner. Anisette capped her 3-year-old campaign Tuesday in the American Oaks with her second Grade 1 win. She will race at age 4. But seven-time stakes winner Neige Blanche has retired at age 7 and will be bred to Not This Time.

Medoro is the least experienced in the Blue Norther field, following an impressive debut victory. Trainer Peter Eurton was surprised she won at five furlongs. “I knew she was a router based on her family, and out of the one-hole, and as far back as she was, yes she did [surprise me].”

Medoro was not quick early, got shuffled back, waited in traffic on the turn, lengthened stride late, and won going away. Sharp debut. The class hike from maiden to stakes is fine. Three of the last six Blue Norther winners entered off maiden wins.

Antonio Fresu rides Medoro in a Blue Norther field that also includes Antifona, 2-for-2 Highlands, and stretch-out sprinter April Vintage.

Eurton’s second stakes entrant Friday is Grade 3 winner Stay Hot in the Eddie Logan. As of midweek, the colt was recovering from a minor fever. His status for Friday is pending. With or without Stay Hot, the nine-runner Eddie Logan goes through a lightly raced, well-bred colt who could make some noise next season in the 3-year-old turf division.

American Hope, produced by Grade 1 American Oaks winner Room Service and sired by American Pharoah, stretched out for his second start and won a maiden turf mile more impressively than the neck margin indicates. Phil D’Amato trains American Hope.

“He’s definitely a horse with a lot of raw talent, a horse on the improve,” D’Amato said. “When he won the other day, he just kind of went to idling late. Flavien [Prat] was really impressed; there is definitely more there.”

American Hope pressed the pace in his maiden win, but his preferred style has yet to be determined. Prat could take him back Friday in an Eddie Logan field with plenty of pace. D’Amato also entered Miracle Mark, who switched to turf for his maiden win two back, followed by a close third in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille on turf.

“He definitely liked the grass,” D’Amato said. “Diego Herrera, who has ridden him on both surfaces, thought he handles the grass better. Hopefully I have a nice one-two punch.”

Lord Bullingdon finished fourth in the DeMille, while compromised by traffic. Others in the Eddie Logan include front-running debut turf sprint winner Practically Broke, maiden turf sprint winner Final Boss, and front-runner Invincible.

The Blue Norther and Eddie Logan are the initial legs of the $3 all-turf pick three on races 5, 7, and 9.

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