Mucho Del Oro leads all the way in San Simeon

ARCADIA, Calif. - Before Mucho Del Oro was claimed for $50,000 by owner Janie Buss and trainer Doug O’Neill last June, and prior to Mucho Del Oro’s first Santa Anita stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters, jockey Juan Hernandez was well acquainted with the gelding.

Hernandez rode Mucho Del Oro to three consecutive wins in early 2022 for trainer Vladimir Cerin, including the $100,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise.

The San Simeon put the two back in the winner’s circle after Mucho Del Oro led throughout the $101,500 San Simeon.

“He has a big heart and he tries all the time,” Hernandez said.

Sent off as the second choice in a field of eight, Mucho Del Oro ($7.80) won the San Simeon by a half-length over 5-1 Dancing Buck, who stalked the pace throughout.

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Mucho Del Oro ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.76 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

The San Simeon was Mucho Del Oro’s second start of the year, his first race since he won a starter allowance last June in which he was eligible to be claimed for $50,000 and was taken by Buss and O’Neill. Buss operates as Purple Rein Racing and is part of the family that owns a majority of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

Prior to the San Simeon, Mucho Del Oro finished second by a nose to Irideo in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course on Jan. 26. Mucho Del Oro was ridden by Hernandez that day and led by two lengths in the stretch.

“He came from off a layoff,” Hernandez said. “I think he needed the race.”

On Saturday morning, Hernandez spoke with Leandro Mora, O’Neill’s chief assistant, who gave the rider a positive scouting report regarding Mucho Del Oro.

“Leandro told me that he’d run good,” Hernandez said. “He was right.”

Dancing Buck, second in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course on Dec. 30, was followed in the San Simeon order of finish by Lane Way, the 2-1 favorite.

Lane Way was fifth for the first half-mile, stalking Mucho Del Oro through early fractions of 22.36 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.31 for a half-mile. Lane Way closed some ground in the stretch to miss by three-quarters of a length in his first start since a third in the Grade 3 Stormy Liberal Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 2.

“I thought he’d be stronger,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He hadn’t run in awhile.”

Sumter, also trained by Mandella, finished fourth, followed by Irideo, Ottoman Prince, Air Force Red and Daniel’s Magic.

Mucho Del Oro, a 6-year-old gelding by Mucho Macho Man, has won 9 of 17 starts and earned $355,100. Mucho Del Oro has thrived at sprint distances on turf at Santa Anita through his career, winning six of seven starts on the hillside course and the main oval.

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