DEL MAR, Calif.— Bardy Farm or OG Boss’ Mo Forza, swung widest through the lane and with powerful strides scored his second straight victory in the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Mile, scoring by a head and running the distance on turf in 1:35.03 despite coming off a more than 10-month layoff.
The homebred 5-year-old horse by Uncle Mo, who was the pride and joy of the late trainer/owner/breeder Barry Abrams and now races for his widow, Dyan Abrams, and his friend, Onofrio Pecoraro, was favored in the Del Mar Mile once again and responded well to the guidance of Flavien Prat for his impressive score.
“He did it last year and he did it again this year, so all the credit goes to the trainer. He broke well and then relaxed nicely for me. He really responded when I asked him to run, and we were in a sprint from the eighth mile pole home. I knew we got up,” said Prat.
Prat and trainer Peter Miller combined to win the Del Mar Mile last year with the big bay and they clicked once more Saturday.
“I was worried if I had him fit enough, I really was. But he’s a champion and he’s got that heart of a champion. I’m just glad I had him fit enough. Just enough,” commented Miller.
Finishing second in the five-horse field was Cannon Thoroughbreds’ Smooth Like Strait, a length ahead of D K Racing, Gold or Maslowski, et al’s Hit the Road.
Mo Forza was winning his seventh race in his 13th start and picked up a first prize of $180,000 to enhance his bank account to $914,460.
The winner paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.10 across the board. Smooth Like Strait returned $2.60 and $2.20, while Hit the Road paid $2.60.
The stakes score was the ninth of the meeting for rider Prat and his second in the Del Mar Mile (Mo Forza, 2020), He now has 69 stakes wins at Del Mar, 11th most in track history among all riders. It was Miller’s third of the meet and his second in the Del Mar Mile (Mo Forza, 2020). He now has 41 stakes wins at Del Mar.
Del Mar Mile Replay
Mo Forza wins Del Mar Mile (Gr.II) race 7 at Del Mar 8/21/21
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Press Release
Photo: Mo Forza (Benoit)
