Mucho Unusual faces 13 in Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. – The allure of a Grade 1 has attracted 14 3-year-old fillies, all seeking their first victory at that level, to Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, with runners heading here from New York, Kentucky, and Great Britain for the 1 1/8-mile grass race.

The locals have taken turns beating one another in this division this year. It is Mucho Unusual who stands precariously at the top right now, having won three straight since switching to turf, including the local prep, the Grade 2 San Clemente going a mile on July 20. But to prevail Saturday, she will have to turn back two challengers trained by Chad Brown, two trained by Simon Callaghan, and three for Richard Baltas.

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Tim Yakteen, trainer of Mucho Unusual, said she’s ready for the challenge.

“She’s coming into it great,” he said Thursday morning. “She’s put on weight since the San Clemente. She’s had two fantastic works. She’s going into the Oaks on a really good note.”

Mucho Unusual won the San Clemente by a neck over Oaks rival Apache Princess after rallying four paths wide on the far turn in a race where several runners had compromised trips. Among them was Maxim Rate, who finished well for fifth after getting shuffled back badly at the quarter pole. She figures to be a giant price Saturday, and she drew well, landing post 2.

Simon Callaghan trains Maxim Rate and also sends out Hidden Message, a British import who comes off a win at Sandown. Hidden Message gets Lasix for the first time and has the meet’s leading rider, Flavien Prat, but she drew poorly, landing the outside post.

“Better 14 out of the chute than 14 going a mile starting in the stretch,” Callaghan said with resignation Thursday.

“I think she’ll run a really good race. She’s training well,” Callaghan said. “Her action suggests she’ll love this firm turf.”

Brown has the likely favorite in Cambier Parc, and a worthy understudy in Dogtag.

Cambier Parc was third last time out in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks behind the East’s best 3-year-old turf filly Concrete Rose, and she’s won a pair of Grade 3 races this year. She drew the rail, with John Velazquez. Dogtag was last in the three-runner Grade 3 Lake George last time out.

Hard Legacy is in from Kentucky, where she won the Grade 3 Regret going 1 1/8 miles on June 15. Her trainer, Norm Casse, said he thinks his filly will appreciate a course where speed can carry.

There is potentially plenty of speed in the race, with the likes of Raymundo’s Secret and Sold It figuring to lead the way. Raymundo’s Secret, the least accomplished of the Baltas trio, crushed a starter-allowance field like a future stakes performer on July 24. Prat rode her that day, so Florent Geroux takes over with Prat opting for Hidden Message.

Baltas also sends out Lady Prancealot, winner of the Grade 3 Honeymoon at 1 1/8 miles, and Strike at Dawn, who won an allowance race July 19.