Grade 1 Winner Mo Forza Retired To Rancho San Miguel In California

Mo Forza, a Grade 1 winner and $1-million-plus earner by the very popular sire of sires Uncle Mo, has been retired from racing and will commence his stallion career in 2022 at Rancho San Miguel in Calif., as the property of Taylor Made Stallions and Onofrio Pecoraro.

The 5-year-old horse will make history on two important fronts: as Kentucky-based industry leader Taylor Made Farm's first foray into California's breeding industry and as the first son of Uncle Mo—North America's 2010 champion 2-year-old colt and the sire of the Grade 1-siring stallions Nyquist and Laoban—to stand on the West Coast.

Mo Forza's introductory fee is $9,000, live foal stand and nurse guarantee. A syndication is being formed, with a limited number of shares available.

Campaigned by Bardy Farm and Pecoraro's San Diego-based OG Boss stable, Mo Forza won eight of 15 starts and earned $1,034,460 as one of North America's top turf milers over the past three seasons. His seven graded stakes victories include the 2019 Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and the 2020-2021 editions of the G2 Del Mar Mile at Del Mar, as well as four Grade 2 races at Santa Anita Park: the 2020-2021 City of Hope Mile Stakes, 2019 Qatar Twilight Derby and 2019 Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes.

He is the first foal out of the Unusual Heat mare Inflamed, a full sister to Grade 2 winner and 2011 California Champion 3-Year-Old Male Burns and to Grade 1-placed multiple winner Brushburn.

“Mo Forza was born and raised at Taylor Made, and we have loved him from the very beginning” said Taylor Made Stallions Vice President Ben Taylor. “He is a big, strong, good-looking horse who ran four triple-digit Beyers and showed tremendous heart in winning seven graded races on the grass. As brilliantly as he trained on dirt, we have no doubt that he would have accomplished just as much on that surface if he had been given the opportunity.

“We are looking forward to participating in the lucrative California-bred program with this outstanding stallion prospect,” Taylor added. “We believe Mo Forza is the right horse at the right time for us to launch our entry into the California breeding industry.”

Pecoraro will remain as a co-owner in Mo Forza and will support him with several high-quality mares.

“We have been looking for a son of Uncle Mo to offer to California breeders, and Mo Forza was number one on our list,” said Rancho San Miguel owner/manager Tom Clark. “In addition to winning seven graded races here in California, he is out of a daughter of our state's all-time leading sire, Unusual Heat. He is also a direct male descendant of another multiple leading California sire, In Excess (Ire), through his Grade 1-winning, California-bred grandsire, the great Indian Charlie. He is a perfect fit here.”

“Mo Forza's name translates roughly from Italian to 'more strength,' and that is precisely what I believe he offers to California's breeding and racing program,” Clark said. “We are thrilled to partner with Taylor Made and Mr. Pecoraro on this exciting new venture.”

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GISW Mo Forza to Rancho San Miguel

Mo Forza (Uncle Mo–Inflamed, Unusual Heat), a Grade I winner and $1 million-plus earner, has been retired from racing and will commence his stallion career in 2022 at Rancho San Miguel in California as the property of Taylor Made Stallions and Onofrio Pecoraro. The 5-year-old, who will represent Kentucky-based Taylor Made Farm's first foray into California's breeding industry, is the first son of Uncle Mo-North America's 2010 Champion juvenile colt and the sire of the Grade 1-siring stallions Nyquist and Laoban–to stand on the West Coast.

Mo Forza's introductory fee is $9,000, live foal stand and nurse guarantee. A syndication is being formed, with a limited number of shares available.

Campaigned by Bardy Farm and Pecoraro's San Diego-based OG Boss stable, Mo Forza won eight of 15 starts and earned $1,034,460 over the past three seasons. His seven graded stakes victories include the 2019 GI Hollywood Derby and the 2020-2021 editions of the GII Del Mar Mile at Del Mar. He also annexed four Grade II races at Santa Anita Park–the 2020-2021 City of Hope Mile S., 2019 Qatar Twilight Derby and 2019 Mathis Brothers Mile S.

He is the first foal out of the Unusual Heat mare Inflamed, a full-sister to Grade II winner and 2011 California Champion 3-year-old Male Burns and to Grade I-placed multiple winner Brushburn.

“Mo Forza was born and raised at Taylor Made, and we have loved him from the very beginning” said Taylor Made Stallions Vice President Ben Taylor. “He is a big, strong, good-looking horse who ran four triple-digit Beyers and showed tremendous heart in winning seven graded races on the grass. As brilliantly as he trained on dirt, we have no doubt that he would have accomplished just as much on that surface if he had been given the opportunity.”

“We are looking forward to participating in the lucrative California-bred program with this outstanding stallion prospect,” Taylor added. “We believe Mo Forza is the right horse at the right time for us to launch our entry into the California breeding industry.”

Pecoraro will remain as a co-owner in Mo Forza and will support him with several high-quality mares.

“We have been looking for a son of Uncle Mo to offer to California breeders, and Mo Forza was number one on our list,” said Rancho San Miguel owner/manager Tom Clark. “In addition to winning seven graded races here in California, he is out of a daughter of our state's all-time leading sire, Unusual Heat. He is also a direct male descendant of another multiple leading California sire, In Excess (Ire), through his Grade I-winning, California-bred grandsire, the great Indian Charlie. He is a perfect fit here.”

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$5K Multiple Medication Fine For Miller

Trainer Peter Miller has been fined $5,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) multiple medication violations rule as a result of Mr. Dougie Fresh (Ghostzapper) testing positive for phenylbutazone after working at San Luis Rey Downs on Sept. 13, according to a Los Alamitos board of stewards ruling Sunday.

Phenylbutazone–more commonly referred to as just “bute”–is a class 4, category C drug. This constituted Miller's third class 4 medication violation in California in 365 days.

On Sept. 2, Miller was fined $1,500 and assessed one half point in accordance with the CHRB's multiple medication violations rule as a consequence of Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) testing positive for phenylbutazone after working at San Luis Rey Downs June 19, 2021.

Mo Forza subsequently won a brace of GII races at Del Mar and Santa Anita–the Del Mar Mile S. and the City of Hope Mile S.

On April 10, Miller was fined $500 after Hembree (Proud Citizen) tested positive for Isoflupredone, a 4C penalty regulated drug, after winning the seventh race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 1.

When asked about the three class 4 medication violations this year, Miller pointed to California's relatively recently instituted out of competition medication regulations.

“Two of the violations were in morning workouts, that wouldn't have been violations in any other state in the country,” he wrote.

Last month, Miller announced that he was taking a hiatus from training, in order to spend “more time with his family, focus on overall health and wellness, and pursue other interests.”

The hiatus, which according to a press release started Nov. 29, is expected to leave the everyday running of the barn in the hands of his assistant, Ruben Alvarado. Miller, however, will still maintain an advisory position along with his role as an owner, the release stated.

According to Equibase, Miller has no horses entered under his name. He did, however, claim Manhattan Up (Into Mischief) out of the Robertino Diodoro barn for $50,000 at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. Miller is listed as the new trainer.

For the past three years–and in light of the 2019 Santa Anita welfare crisis–the state's regulatory agency has markedly tightened the rules surrounding equine safety, placing an emphasis on the role of trainer responsibility.

As such, speculation had been mounting for some time that Miller has been the target of increased regulatory scrutiny due to five horses in his care suffering catastrophic injuries during 2021–the highest number of any single trainer in California this year.

Miller addressed those rumors in the press release, stating that his decision had not been triggered by any outside regulatory pressure.

As per the Oaklawn claim, Miller wrote in his text, “We are sending a string to Arkansas but will run under an assistant.”

Miller also addressed via text the equine fatalities he has incurred during a 12-month period. He wrote that the fatalities were “100% unavoidable,” which included three horses that incurred catastrophic shoulder injuries after layoffs. These specific injuries are often difficult to diagnose.

“Perfectly sound horses and my first and only heart attack in 35 years training,” he wrote, pointing also to Rustic Canyon (Unusual Heat), a 6-year-old gelding who suffered a sudden cardiac death during training at San Luis Rey on Feb. 26.

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Breeders’ Cup Notes: International Squad, Turfers Stretch Their Legs

A busy morning on the Del Mar main track with all international horses training except Quick Suzy (IRE) who was not entered Monday for her intended run in the Juvenile Turf Sprint because of a spike in temperature.

Teona (IRE) (Turf) was the first European horse out on track who did some light exercise. She looked in very good form. The next group out were Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Cachet (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) who both have taken the eye since landing in Del Mar.

The six Charlie Appleby-trained horses were on the track for the first time since clearing quarantine and exercised under the watchful eye of Appleby.

All horses looked in tremendous condition and reports from the Godolphin team have been very positive on all horses since touching down in California.

Kevin Ryan landed Monday night and was on track to watch both of his Turf Sprint contenders. Glass Slippers (GB) will be bidding to follow up her win in the race last year. She was ridden this morning by race day jockey Tom Eaves.

Eaves said, “It's great to be at the Breeders' Cup again. I sat on Glass Slippers for a light canter and she felt great. I just tracked Emaraaty Ana (GB) for a circuit and it went well. She's a superb filly and I'm really looking forward to the race on Saturday.”

Andrea Atzeni who takes the ride on Emaraaty Ana (GB) on Saturday was trackside to watch him exercise and said, “I'm going to ride Emaraaty Ana (GB) on the track tomorrow. It was great to see him exercise and he looked in great form. I've got a lovely draw on Saturday in gate two so hopefully we get a bit of luck in running and he runs a big race.”

Oisin Murphy, who was recently crowned champion jockey in the UK for the third consecutive year, rode exercise on Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff) just before 7 a.m. They did a strong canter and exercise looked to go well.

Murphy said, “She's a nice horse and felt good. I'm very much looking forward to taking the ride. It's great to be in Del Mar and I've a few nice rides over the weekend. I will ride Hierarchy (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) tomorrow morning and I'm hoping to have a spin on Mise En Scene (GB) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) at some point before Friday as well.”

Tuesday was the first sighting of the Ballydoyle horses on track having completed their quarantine requirements. Aidan O'Brien has a team of seven horses who went out on track together led by Broome (IRE) (Turf) ridden by Dean Gallagher. The string was accompanied by a pony ridden by Rachel Richardson. They had a trot for a circuit of the track followed by a light canter. Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) (Turf) who sat third in the string looked in particularly good form having some playful bucks during his canter down the backstretch.

Michael Bell was another British trainer to be trackside to watch Great Max (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) have a canter in the hands of regular work rider Joe Bradnam. Great Max (IRE) had a good look around his surroundings during exercise but seemed in good order.

Bell said, “It's tremendous to be back over for the Breeders' Cup. It is an amazing race meeting and I'm delighted to be part of it with Great Max. Joe Bradnam seems happy with him so it's all systems go.”

Connections of Rougir (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) were trackside having made the trip over from France. The same connections recently won the Champion's Stakes at Ascot and will be hoping for more Grade 1 glory on Saturday. Trainer Cedric Rossi reported his filly to be “in great form.”

Irish trainer Paddy Twomey was overseeing the training of his filly Pearls Galore (FR) (Mile).

Twomey said, “Pearls Galore traveled over well, she's settled into the routine here lovely and enjoying the training. She's cantered on the track the last two days, everything has gone well, we're looking forward to Saturday. Del Mar is a lovely track, the turf will be quick and it'll suit her. She's nibble, neat and tidy and I think she'll deal with the demands of the track very well on the day.”

Matera Sky (Sprint) and Jasper Great (Juvenile) were two of the final international horses to go out for exercise. They had a canter and returned to the quarantine barn via the paddock. They took everything in their stride and looked very relaxed.

TURF

Gufo – Otter Bend Stables has made it to the Turf with its first and only runner, Gufo, a homebred son of Declaration of War colt who never has been worse than third in 13 career starts.

For owner and co-breeder Stephen Cainelli, it is something of a “how do you top this?” situation. Winning the $4 million Turf certainly would elevate the already engaging story to another level and give veteran trainer Christophe Clement his first Breeders' Cup victory.

Gufo earned his berth in the Turf with a victory by a neck over Japan in the Sword Dancer a “Win and You're In” race on Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course. In his most recent start, he was third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Oct. 9 at Belmont Park. He shipped from New York to Del Mar Sunday with his three Clement stablemates headed to Breeders' Cup races.

“He had a very good day of training this morning,” said Christophe Lorieul, Clement's assistant for 27 years. “He galloped an easy mile. He was very willing, very forward but within himself. I really liked the way he went this morning.”

Gufo and regular rider Joel Rosario drew post 11 in the 14-horse Turf and is 8-1 on the morning line.

“It's not great, but it's a mile and a half and he's got time to try to tuck him and try to save some ground,” Lorieul said. “Obviously, on the turf going a mile and a half that's what you want. It's not ideal, but that's why Joel Rosario gets paid the big bucks.”

MILE

Mo Forza — Bardy Farm and OG Boss's seven-time graded stakes winner Mo Forza is on a mission to make up for lost opportunities in this year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Last year, on the back of two strong victories in the Del Mar Mile and City of Hope Mile, the son of Uncle Mo was one of the favorites for the Mile before injury derailed the Peter Miller trainee's preparation. This season, the 5yo winner of the 2019 Hollywood Derby returns to the same Del Mar surface as that triumph for his redemption attempt.

“He's training really great,” Miller said. “Today we gave him about a mile and a half jog and schooled him in the gate and then schooled him in the paddock.”

Mo Forza, who eclipsed $1 million in prize money by winning the same two preps this season, drew post six in the 14-horse field and could be making his final career start.

“I like the post,” Miller said. “I think there's plenty of pace and it should string everyone out. We should be sitting midpack, but there's no real strategy other than to hope for a good trip. Del Mar takes a certain kind of horse who can handle the turns, the short stretch and the firm going — and if you have that horse, you're in good shape here.”

Flavien Prat, who has piloted Mo Forza through the four-race win streak he carries into the Mile, returns to the saddle Saturday.

TURF SPRINT

Gear Jockey – Calumet Farm's homebred Gear Jockey, the 5-1 co-second choice for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, jogged once around under exercise rider Lyndsay Delello for trainer Rusty Arnold.

“He shipped well with no issues,” Arnold said of Gear Jockey, who arrived at Del Mar late Monday night from Kentucky.

Third as a maiden in the Juvenile Turf at the 2019 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, Gear Jockey will break from post 10 under Jose Lezcano in Saturday's race.

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