Mucho Unusual Rebounds Strongly in Frankel

ARCADIA, CA – George Krikorian homebred Mucho Unusual rebounded strongly from a 12th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), winning Sunday’s $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Mucho Unusual broke from the far outside post under John Velazquez as the 5/2 co-favorite and settled into a close stalking position just behind She’s Our Charm.

The other co-favorite Miss Teheran surged up the rail on the backstretch and took the lead heading into the far turn as Mucho Unusual joined the chase three-wide.

Taking the lead near the top of the stretch, Mucho Unusual dug in and held off all comers to win the 1 1/8-mile firm turf route by 3/4 of a length in 1:46.94.

“She broke good and it looked like the one speed filly (She’s Our Charm) would go, and she did,” Velazquez said. “Down the backside, (Miss Teheran) moved a little early and I also wanted to make sure I put a little pressure on the two because she had been running easily.  Turning for home, I asked her and she finished up great.”

Never Be Enough rallied late to nose out She’s Our Charm for second, while Miss Teheran faltered in the stretch and held onto fourth by a nose over Zee Drop.

Rideforthecause, Altea, and Colonial Creed completed the order of finish.

Meal Ticket and Posh Holly were scratched.

The Tim Yakteen trainee’s win was her second in her last 3 starts, including the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) over this same course. The California-bred 4-year-old Mucho Macho Man filly improved her record to 18-6-3-4 with $762,715 earned.

“She is such a dream to train,” Yakteen said. “So easy, so straightforward; she makes my job easy. She’s my queen. We don’t have a big stable, but she’s our queen.”

Mucho Unusual returned $7.80 to win, $4.40 to place, and $3.20 to show. Never Be Enough brought back $18.40 to place and $10.40 to show, while She’s Our Charm paid $4 to show.