Mucho Unusual sitting out Matriarch, targets Megahertz

Mucho Unusual, winner of the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes in 2020 and four other stakes in her 22-race career, will miss Sunday’s Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar in favor of a start in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita in January.

Trainer Tim Yakteen said in a text message on Wednesday that Mucho Unusual will have an early 2022 schedule in turf stakes designed “to follow the same campaign as last year.”

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Mucho Unusual won the Megahertz at a mile in January and was later second in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes and Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes before being rested for most of the spring and summer. Owned by George Krikorian, Mucho Unusual won an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Oct. 30 at Santa Anita in her only start since late March.

The $100,000 Megahertz Stakes will be run Jan. 29.

The $400,000 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf is the leading race on the final day of the Del Mar autumn meeting.

The probable starters are Bodhicitta, Princess Grace, Regal Glory, Tapwater, Viadera, Warren’s Showtime, and Zofelle, according to Del Mar racing officials.