Moulin de Mougin looks to bounce back in Wilshire
ARCADIA, Calif. – After a glance at her recent races, Moulin de Mougin would seem difficult to endorse in Sunday’s $100,000 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
She fell two starts back and finished ninth of 11 in her last start. A deeper look at those races leaves Moulin de Mougin as a contender in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares.
Moulin de Mougin fell in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here last September after clipping heels with a rival on the turn. Despite the accident, Moulin de Mougin was considered a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last autumn until trainer Richard Mandella abandoned the plan, citing lingering soreness from the fall.
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After a winter break, Moulin de Mougin finished ninth while racing wide in the Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf April 4. She never threatened race winner Talco. Considering that it was her first start in more than six months and was against males, some concessions can be afforded to Moulin de Mougin.
“I was disappointed that she didn’t have a better finish,” Mandella said. “This is a good spot. We’ve gotten a race in her.”
Moulin de Mougin will be ridden by Mike Smith, her regular rider since last summer. Smith guided Moulin de Mougin to a win in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar last August.
Key contenders
Moulin de Mougin (Last 3 Beyers: 83-N/A-94)
* The Mabee Stakes is the standout performance in Moulin de Mougin’s 15-race career for owner and breeder Ran Jan Racing. A 5-year-old, Moulin de Mougin is winless in three starts at a mile but was third in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at the distance here last June.
* Moulin de Mougin beat maidens on the hillside turf course in October 2012 in her second start. In the last year, she has raced exclusively at a mile or farther.
“She could be better going farther,” Mandella said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Moulin de Mougin. Trainer Richard Mandella is 19-1-2-1 with a $0.26 ROI over the past five years in turf route graded stakes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Thegirlinthatsong (Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-92)
* Thegirlinthatsong won the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on dirt here in January and was third to Warren’s Veneda in two subsequent dirt stakes – the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes in February and the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 14.
* There will not be a third encounter in the immediate future against Warren’s Veneda. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is running Thegirlinthatsong on turf Sunday. Thegirlinthatsong, 4, has won 3 of 9 starts on turf, including a minor stakes at Louisiana Downs in 2013.
“For us, it’s a timely race,” Hollendorfer said. “I think she’ll be just fine.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Thegirlinthatsong. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 12-1-0-1 with a $0.50 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf in graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Birdlover (Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-90)
* Birdlover has a defined role in the Wilshire: She will set the pace.
* Trained by Doug O’Neill, Birdlover is perfect in two starts this year, winning the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course in February and an optional claimer at a mile on turf March 22. She was on the lead in both races and will be a danger in that position Sunday.
“I love the continuity,” O’Neill said. “She acts like she’ll run a big race.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Indecise. Trainer Richard Mandella is 24-7-2-3 with a $4.94 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on turf following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan