“The decision has been made to retire G1 winner and Cal-Bred Horse of the Year Mucho Unusual,” tweeted trainer Tim Yakteen. “We are sad to see her leave the barn, she has been so special to and for all of us. She returns to Starwood Farm, KY where she was born and we await the news of who she'll be bred to.”

The half-sister to MGSW and GISP $700,000-plus earner Big Score (Mr. Big) retires with a record of 24-8-5-5 and earnings of $957,415. She was a $170,000 Keeneland September RNA in 2017.

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To win, she'll have to get by likely frontrunner Leggs Galore (Bayern), sent out by Phil D'Amato, who is coming off a big effort, winning last out down the hill in the Jan. 15 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint S. She carries four fewer pounds than Going to Vegas and will almost certainly set the pace.

Coming after them both will be George Krikorian's homebred Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), who, after a strong 2021 season, looks to improve on her second-place finish in last year's Buena Vista S. where she finished in front of Going to Vegas. She and Going to Vegas will both need to overcome outside post positions (Going to Vegas in the 10, Mucho Unusual in the 11), but have the class to do so.

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A soon-to-be 6-year-old California-bred mare by Mucho Macho Man out of Krikorian's Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual, Mucho Unusual, a Grade 1 winner and four-time overall graded stakes winner for trainer Tim Yakteen, is a remarkable 12-6-3-3 over the local turf and sports a 22-8-5-4 overall mark with earnings of $933,415.

Idle since prevailing by a nose at 3-5 in a mile and one eighth allowance here on Oct. 30, Mucho Unusual will be reunited with John Velazquez who guided her to her Robert J. Frankel victory five starts back.

Trainer Richard Baltas is well-armed with a pair of distaffers, LNJ Foxwoods' improving Luck and Calvin Nguyen's English-bred Bodhicitta.

A 4-year-old filly by Kitten's Joy, Luck was two for four in France at marathon distances prior to taking her U.S. debut for Baltas going a mile and one sixteenth on turf in a first condition allowance Aug. 7 at Del Mar. Subsequently second, beaten a head in her last two races, the G1 Rodeo Drive at a mile and one quarter on turf here Oct. 2 and in the G3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on grass Nov. 25 at Del Mar, Luck has been knocking on the door and will hope to barrel through with Flavien Prat back aboard for the third consecutive time on Saturday.

Winless in her last six starts, the most recent a sixth place finish in the G1 Matriarch at one mile on turf Nov. 28, Bodhicitta will hope to be flying from off the pace under Kent Desormeaux.

THE GRADE 3 ROBERT J. FRANKEL STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Bodhicitta—Kent Desormeaux—121
2. Mucho Unusual—John Velazquez—123
3. England's Rose—Victor Espinoza—123
4. Moraz—Juan Hernandez—121
5. Sloane Garden—Kyle Frey—121
6. Global Brand—Umberto Rispoli—121
7. Luck—Flavien Prat—121

Special early first post time for a 10-race card including four graded stakes, is at 12 noon. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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“Our primary focus is to get her over a million dollars,” said Yakteen, who has orchestrated a terrific career for the 5-year-old California-bred mare by Mucho Macho Man. “She's getting close now ($933,415) and if all goes well in the Matriarch, we'll try to run again in the Frankel (Grade 3 Robert J. at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 31) and follow a similar path to what we've done this year.”

A win or second-place finish in Del Mar's $400,000 Matriarch, to be contested at one mile on turf, would put Mucho Unusual over the $1 million dollar mark and further enhance her residual value as a broodmare.

With an overall race record of 21-7-5-4, Mucho Unusual, who took the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2020, is out of the outstanding producer Not Unusual, who is by Unusual Heat. A winner of the Grade 3 Frankel here on Dec. 27, 2020 and of the Grade 3 Megahertz on Jan. 18, 2021, Mucho Unusual has four graded stakes wins and five overall stakes victories, all on turf, to her credit.

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Second, about a half length off of heavily favored Mucho Unusual as the field made the dirt crossing shortly after its hillside turf start, Going to Vegas took the pole position about a mile from home with French-bred Neige Blanche and Mucho Unusual in close attendance to the far turn.

With a one length advantage over Neige Blanche at the quarter pole, Going to Vegas spurted clear three sixteenths of a mile out to win as much the best.

“She ran her race today,” said Baltas, who has now won the last four runnings of the Santa Ana.  “Today was the first time she showed us that kind of acceleration.  The turn of foot was impressive.”

Although she had broken her maiden and won an allowance route while on or near the lead prior to being claimed on June 12, 2020, Going to Vegas had never exhibited the kind of front-running dominance she did in the Santa Ana.

“Just working on her, getting her to relax and obviously we took the blinkers off of her (four starts back),” explained Baltas.  “With this distance, it's probably better for her to stay or even a little further.  (A) mile and three eighths, mile and a half, because she has tactical speed and she made the lead pretty easy today…I was pleasantly surprised that she had that turn of foot at the end.”

Fourth going one mile on turf in the G2 Buena Vista Stakes Feb. 20, Going to Vegas was second two starts back in the G1 American Oaks at a mile and one quarter on turf.  With the Santa Ana her second attempt at the distance, Going to Vegas was the second choice among a field of six older fillies and mares and paid $8.60, $2.80 and $2.40.

“Since last night when I watched all the races of the filly, I (thought) she probably would be the pace,” said Rispoli.  “This morning I said to myself, 'The only way to beat Mucho Unusual is to go get the lead.'  The race came the way I want, I took the lead before the first turn and from there, she just kept improving acceleration and she really gave me a serious turn of foot at the top of the stretch.”

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas, who is out of the Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist, notched her first ever stakes win and improved her overall mark to 18-4-8-2.  With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $283,751.

Mucho Unusual, attentive to the pace while saving ground throughout, was full of run at the top of the lane but was clearly second best on the day, finishing one length in front of a late running Red Lark.

Off at 2-5 with Flavien Prat, Mucho Unusual paid $2.10 and $2.10.

Irish-bred Red Lark rallied from last under Ricky Gonzalez and paid $2.20 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Neige Blanche.

Fractions on the race were 24.64, 49.17, 1:14.02 and 1:38.14.

Racing resumes on Sunday with first post time for a nine-race card at 1 p.m.

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Voted California-bred Horse of the Year for 2020 by the CTBA, Mucho Unusual will be tackling sharp recent allowance winner Tapwater, promising French-bred Neige Blanche, Irish-bred Red Lark and long-fused French-bred Altea in what shapes up as a terrific betting race.

A two-time graded stakes winner at the current meeting for trainer Tim Yakteen, Mucho Unusual, a 5-year-old mare by Mucho Macho Man, out of the Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual, comes off a solid second going one mile on turf behind rising star Charmaine's Mia in the Grade 2 Buena Vista on Feb. 20 and will appreciate the additional quarter mile on Saturday.

A winner of the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at a mile and one quarter on turf five starts back here on Sept. 26, Mucho Unusual also has a second place finish at the trip from three overall tries. Ridden by four different jockeys in her last four races, she'll handled by leading man Flavien Prat. The leading money earner in the field with $862,715, Mucho Unusual, a four-time graded stakes winner, has an overall mark of 20-7-4-4.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Tapwater, in her first start since Oct. 16, stalked the early pace and prevailed by a neck under Prat in a one mile turf allowance here on Feb. 12. Lightly raced, this 5-year-old LNJ Foxwoods homebred mare by Tapit has won two out of her last five starts, all at one mile on grass. With Prat opting to ride likely favorite Mucho Unusual, Mike Smith takes over as Tapwater tries a mile and one quarter for the first time in what will be her first stakes assignment. With three wins and two seconds from eight overall starts, she has earnings of $142,940.

One of two Leonard Powell-trained entrants, Neige Blanche has been idle since well beaten in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 ¼ miles on turf Dec. 26. A handy Group 3 winner going 1 3/8 miles on turf in her final French start on June 6, 2020, she showed ample promise in her first two stateside appearances, a close fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22 and a third place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Sept. 19.

A maiden victress going a mile and one quarter on synthetic in her second start at age two, Neige Blanche is proven at the distance and would appreciate a fast pace when ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez on Saturday. Owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Laura DeSeroux, Marsh Naify and Mathilde Powell, Neige Blanche, a 4-year-old filly, has three wins from nine career starts.

Trained by Paddy Gallagher and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, 4-year-old Irish-bred Red Lark comes off an even fifth place finish in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Feb. 20. An upset winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks four starts back, she ran a solid fourth in the Grade 1 American Oaks on opening day and is another who would benefit from a lively pace. Handled in her last seven starts by Drayden Van Dyke, she'll be ridden by Ricky Gonzalez on Saturday.

Winless in five Irish starts, Red Lark has two wins from nine stateside starts as she seeks her second stakes victory in the Santa Ana.

Previously trained by eastern-based Chad Brown, French-bred Altea finished well when beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Mucho Unusual in her first start for Michael McCarthy, the Grade 3, 1 1/8 mile turf Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Dec. 27. Subsequently third going a mile and one half on turf in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes Jan. 17, Altea will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Abel Cedillo and is the only horse shortening up in distance on Saturday.

THE GRADE 3 SANTA ANA STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 9 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

1. Mucho Unusual—Flavien Prat—124
2. Silberpfeil—Tyler Baze—122
3. Going to Vegas—Umberto Rispoli—120
4. Tapwater—Mike Smith—120
5. Red Lark—Ricardo Gonzalez—122
6. Neige Blanche—Juan Hernandez—122
7. Altea—Abel Cedillo—120
8. Colonial Creed—Mario Gutierrez–120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post California’s Reigning Horse Of The Year, Muco Unusual Headlines Saturday’s Santa Ana Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Other Cal-bred champions announced during Monday's teleconference were: Big Fish (Mr. Big) and Good With People (Curlin to Mischief) (tied for 2yo male); Governor Goteven (Govenor Charlie) (2yo female); El Tigre Terrible (Smiling Tiger) (3yo male); Warren's Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) (3yo female); Galilean (Uncle Mo) (older male); Fashionably Fast (Lucky Pulpit) and Sneaking Out (Indian Evening) (tied for sprinter).

Reddam Racing's now-pensioned Square Eddie was California champion sire by earnings, winners, turf earnings and 2-year-old earnings and Reddam Racing was champion breeder by earnings.

Warren's Veneda (Affirmative), dam of Warren's Showtime, was named broodmare of the year. Steve Miyadi was named trainer of the year.

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Mucho Unusual is a 5-year-old mare by Mucho Macho Man, out of the Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual, was bred by owner George Krikorian and is trained by Tim Yakteen.

She has career earnings of $862,715, of which $317,333 were earned in 2020 when she scored her greatest career triumph in the Sept. 26 Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. She also won the G3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. The former California Cup Oaks winner has placed in nine graded stakes.

The other finalists for Horse of the Year, in alphabetical order, were Bulletproof One and Warren's Showtime.

Other Cal-bred champions recognized during the teleconference:

Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Tie between Big Fish and Good With People. Big Fish, bred by George Krikorian, owned by Legacy Ranch, trained by David Hofmans; Good With People, bred and owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Female – Governor Goteven, bred and owned by Templeton Horses LLC, trained by Walther Solis.

Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Male – El Tigre Terrible, bred by Martin Bach, owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Female – Warren's Showtime, bred by Benjamin Warren, owned by Benjamin and Sally Warren, trained by Craig Lewis.

Champion California-bred Older Male – Galilean, bred by Bar C Racing Stables, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, trained by John Sadler.

Champion California-bred Older Female – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Champion California-bred Sprinter – Tie between Fashionably Fast and Sneaking Out. Fashionably Fast, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Harris Farms, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, trained by Dean Pederson. Sneaking Out, bred and owned by KMN Racing, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Champion California-bred Turf Horse – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – Square Eddie, property of Reddam Racing LLC.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number of Winners – Square Eddie, property of Reddam Racing LLC.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings – Square Eddie, property of Reddam Racing LLC.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings – Square Eddie, property of Reddam Racing LLC.

Trainer of the Year – Steve Miyadi.

Broodmare of the Year – Warren's Veneda, property of Benjamin Warren.

Champion Breeder of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings – Reddam Racing LLC.

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The time of the event, and call-in details, are still to be determined. The annual business meeting will be part of the conference call.

The three finalists for Horse of the Year, in alphabetical order, are: Bulletproof One, Mucho Unusual and Warren's Showtime.

Winners of the stallion divisions will be announced soon. Other Cal-bred champions that will be recognized during the teleconference:

Champion California-bred 2-Year-Old Male – Tie between Big Fish and Good With People. Big Fish, bred by George Krikorian, owned by Legacy Ranch, trained by David Hofmans; Good With People, bred and owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred 2-Year-Old Female – Governor Goteven, bred and owned by Templeton Horses LLC, trained by Walther Solis.

Champion California-bred 3-Year-Old Male – El Tigre Terrible, bred by Martin Bach, owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred 3-Year-Old Female – Warren's Showtime, bred by Benjamin Warren, owned by Benjamin and Sally Warren, trained by Craig Lewis.

Champion California-bred Older Male – Galilean, bred by Bar C Racing Stables, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, Williams Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, training by John Sadler.

Champion California-bred Older Female – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Champion California-bred Sprinter – Tie between Fashionably Fast and Sneaking Out. Fashionably Fast, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Harris Farms, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, trained by Dean Pederson. Sneaking Out, bred and owned by KMN Racing, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Champion California-bred Turf Horse – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Trainer of the Year – Steve Miyadi.

Broodmare of the Year – Warren's Veneda, property of Benjamin Warren.

Champion Breeder of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings – Reddam Racing LLC.

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The time of the event, and call-in details, are still to be determined. The annual business meeting will be part of the conference call.

The three finalists for Horse of the Year, in alphabetical order, are: Bulletproof One, Mucho Unusual and Warren's Showtime.

Winners of the stallion divisions will be announced soon. Other Cal-bred champions that will be recognized during the teleconference:

Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Tie between Big Fish and Good With People. Big Fish, bred by George Krikorian, owned by Legacy Ranch, trained by David Hofmans; Good With People, bred and owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Female – Governor Goteven, bred and owned by Templeton Horses LLC, trained by Walther Solis.

Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Male – El Tigre Terrible, bred by Martin Bach, owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Female – Warren's Showtime, bred by Benjamin Warren, owned by Benjamin and Sally Warren, trained by Craig Lewis.

Champion California-bred Older Male – Galilean, bred by Bar C Racing Stables, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, Williams Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, training by John Sadler.

Champion California-bred Older Female – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Champion California-bred Sprinter – Tie between Fashionably Fast and Sneaking Out. Fashionably Fast, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Harris Farms, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, trained by Dean Pederson. Sneaking Out, bred and owned by KMN Racing, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Champion California-bred Turf Horse – Mucho Unusual, bred and owned by George Krikorian, trained by Tim Yakteen.

Trainer of the Year – Steve Miyadi.

Broodmare of the Year – Warren's Veneda, property of Benjamin Warren.

Champion Breeder of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings – Reddam Racing LLC.

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