Santa Anita: Moulin de Mougin returns in Unzip Me Stakes

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ARCADIA, Calif. – Moulin de Mougin was bred for Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course. The Curlin filly is out of Cambiocorsa, who won four stakes on the hillside turf course in the 2000s.

Moulin de Mougin won her first start on the hillside last October in a maiden race. On Saturday, she makes her 2013 stakes debut in the $70,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“It’s something we know she can do,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Unraced since a fourth-place finish in an optional claimer on the hillside course in January, Moulin de Mougin was sidelined with a “little ankle twist” earlier this year, Mandella said.

“We gave her some time off and let her grow up a bit,” he said. “She looks like she might be better. She’s ready to go.”

Owned by her breeder, Ran Jan Racing, Moulin de Mougin is part of a field of 12 in the Unzip Me, the 11th and final race on Saturday’s program. The field includes the stakes winners Travesura, who won the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last November; Judy In Disguise, who won the Sweet Life Stakes on the hillside turf course in February; and Unusual Way, a three-time stakes winner.

Judy In Disguise was second in the Manhattan Beach Stakes for 3-year-old female turf sprinters at Hollywood Park in June but was third in the Le Cle Stakes over a mile there July 7 and fifth in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes over a mile at Del Mar two weeks later.

Judy In Disguise is best in sprints, trainer Simon Callaghan said.

“I think that’s her thing,” Callaghan said. “She’s a funny filly. When we stretched her out, she didn’t have that kick at the finish.”

High hopes remain for Kristo

Kristo was a disappointment when second at 3-5 in a maiden race for 2-year-olds over six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 28.

For his second start in Saturday’s fourth race over 6 1/2 furlongs, trainer John Sadler has equally high hopes.

“He trained better than he ran at Del Mar,” Sadler said. “He’s had two super workouts here, just beautiful works, so we expect a lot.”

Kristo worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 last Monday.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Kristo was purchased for $500,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. In his debut, he led in the stretch but finished second by 1 1/4 lengths to Rivers Run Deep.

In Saturday’s race, Kristo is part of an oversubscribed field of 14 that will be limited to 12 starters. Rafael Bejarano, the leading rider at Del Mar, has the mount.

Trainer Bob Baffert starts Da Bears, a Tiznow colt who was purchased for $230,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. Da Bears makes his debut Saturday and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.

◗ Sunday’s top race is the $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship over 1 1/4 miles, and it drew a field of 14. The runners include Vagabond Shoes and Lucayan, who were first and second in the Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 24; Indy Point, last of 13 as the beaten favorite in the Arlington Million on Aug. 17; and Slim Shadey, who won the 2012 John Henry Turf Championship.