Princess Moche gets the nose down in the Megahertz, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Princesa Moche, bet down to the 5-2 favorite in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes, proved horseplayers correct when gamely prevailing in a three-way photo to earn her first stakes win in the one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Mirco Demuro for trainer Doug O’Neill, Princesa Moche was imported from her native Peru last year by owner Rancho San Roberto Inc. She is proving to be one tough mare in the new surroundings.
A 5-year-old daughter of English-bred stallion Muwaary, Princesa Moche was exiting her U.S. stakes debut in the GIII Las Cienegas sprinting about 6 furlongs on the hillside turf course. She went to the lead that day and set the pace before grudgingly being overtaken late by top turf mare Queen Maxima to lose by a half-length.
The Megahertz was Princesa Moche’s second time racing around two turns in the U.S. She stalked pacesetter Going Lucky (12-1) in second through moderate fractions of 23.73, 48.63 and 1:13.16 for six furlongs. Then entering the stretch, Princesa Moche appeared as if she could be weakening. It would not be the case.
“I was a little scared because she relaxed a little too much at the last turn,” Demuro said. “It looked like she was going to get beat. But then she switched leads down the stretch and she fought like always.”
In the final furlong Princesa Moche found her top gear and finished best of all to win by a neck over Vibez, the 9-2 third choice ridden by Juan Hernandez. It was another neck back to Will Then (4-1) in third.
“I’ve never had a horse from Peru,” O’Neill said. “She’s average size, but I’ve told people she’s like Tanner from ‘Bad News Bears’. Just tough as nuts.”
Added Demuro: “She is so strong. She is a lovely hearted filly. She runs at six furlongs and at a mile and every time she tries her best.”
Princesa Moche’s winning time was 1:36.09. The morning line favorite, Public Assembly, went off the slight second choice at 5-2 and finished fourth.
Prior to her U.S. stakes debut in the Las Cienegas, Princesa Moche won a second-level allowance going a mile on turf in November at Del Mar. Her overall record improved to 39: 12-4-5 with more than $170,000 in earnings.
Princesa Moche paid $7.00, $4.20 and $2.80. Vibez returned $4.60 and $3.80. Will Then, ridden by Mike Smith for Jonathan Thomas, paid $3.60.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with an eight-race program starting at 12:30 p.m. PT. For more information including full race entries, please visit santaanita.com.
GRADE III, MEGAHERTZ STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
MIRCO DEMURO, PRINCESA MOCHE, WINNER: “She is so strong. She is a lovely hearted filly. She runs at six furlongs and at a mile and every time she tries her best. I was a little bit scared because she relaxed a little too much at the last turn. It looked like she was going to get beat, but then she switched leads down the stretch and she fought like always. It was hard for me to stop her after the wire. She still had something left.”
TRAINER QUOTES
DOUG O’NEILL, PRINCESA MOCHE, WINNER: “I’ve never had a horse from Peru. She’s average size. She’s like Tanner from ‘Bad News Bears.’ Just tough as nuts. She knows where the wire is. Even Mirco said, ‘I kind of dropped the bit, but once she felt that competitive thing, she jumped back in the bit and got it done.’ It makes a barn look good when you get a mare like her. She’s just hard trying.”
NOTES: The winning owner is Rancho San Roberto Inc.
