Moose Mitchell best of tough trio in competitive sprint
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Horses who rank a notch below graded stakes caliber benefit from class relief during the Los Alamitos two-week September meet that is sandwiched between summer at Del Mar and autumn at Santa Anita.
Those include three tough veteran sprinters in the starter-allowance feature Friday at Los Alamitos. Moose Mitchell, Lovesick Blues, and Principe Carlo have won a combined 22 races, a total likely to increase in race 7 at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Moose Mitchell should be tough based on three highly rated allowance wins prior to a tough-trip defeat last month in a Grade 2. But his Friday rivals are legit – stakes-placed closer Lovesick Blues shortens to his preferred sprint distance, and stakes-winning front-runner Principe Carlo could shake loose in his third start following an extended layoff.
Four others are entered in the starter allowance, none dropping as dramatically as Moose Mitchell. He exits the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar, which was an ambitious and reasonable shot to take off three fast allowance wins. Nothing went right for Moose Mitchell in the seven-furlong O’Brien.
“He had a bad post from the one-hole,” trainer George Papaprodromou said. “When the dirt hits his face, he kind of shies and backs off. He needs a good trip, and it was a tough race, of course.”
Moose Mitchell was visibly uncomfortable while climbing from the kickback, and finished seventh. Friday, Moose Mitchell drew post 5 in the seven-runner field, and should get a pressing trip in the clear. It’s his easiest race since a claiming sprint in 2022 that made him eligible for the $25,000 claiming starter on Friday.
Kathleen Kennedy bred and owns Moose Mitchell, a 7 for 24 gelding who tailed off in 2022. Papaprodromou and Kennedy believed he was better than his form appeared, but he needed confidence. They dropped him into a $25,000 claiming sprint at Del Mar.
“We tried to sneak one in there,” Papaprodromou said, explaining the drop. “He won, and we lost him. But the owner loves the horse, so we went back for him.”
They reclaimed Moose Mitchell from a $40,000 claiming win in his next start. This summer at age 4, he reached career-best form by reeling off three straight victories prior to his misfire in the O’Brien.
Mario Gutierrez rides Moose Mitchell, who is likely to press the pace outside Principe Carlo, whose form is uncertain. A 7-year-old who won eight races and $494,843 from 30 starts, Principe Carlo has finished sixth in both starts since returning from an 11-month layoff. He makes his third start back Friday under Ramon Vazquez, and should set the pace.
Lovesick Blues shortens to his preferred one-turn distance and will rally late. All seven of his wins were one turn. Tiago Pereira rides Lovesick Blues.
Others in the starter allowance include See Through It, Perfectionistic, Mongolian Legend, and Swift as I Am.
Race 8 Friday includes front-running California-bred maiden filly Seahawk Mary. She will try to wire the six-furlong race for trainer Luis Mendez, whose four starters this meet have produced two wins and two seconds.