George Krikorian's California homebred Mucho Unusual punched her ticket to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with a front-end score Sept. 26 in the $300,500 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
The Tim Yakteen trainee came off a third in the Aug. 15 Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar to earn her first grade 1 in the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive, a Breeders' Cup Challenge event that awarded her with an automatic berth in the Nov. 7 Filly & Mare Turf. The lone California-bred in the field, she won by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 2:00.19 on firm turf, providing jockey Juan Hernandez with his first grade 1 win.
In hand as the field crossed under the wire for the first time, Mucho Unusual enjoyed a one-length advantage over Tonahutu through a quarter in :24.29, increased her lead to 1 1/2 lengths through a :49.52 half, got three-quarters in 1:14.07 while still on the front end, and was two lengths clear through a 1:37.28 mile.
The 4-year-old daughter of Mucho Macho Man was never seriously challenged while holding Maxim Rate at bay. Lady Prancealot, favored at odds of 7-2 in a field of six, was another length back in third.
"My filly ran very sharp and she was really comfortable in the race," Hernandez said. "They let me go to the lead easily, so I took it, and then the rest of the race the filly did by herself. She's a really nice filly. When I asked her to run at the stretch, she responded really well.
"It means a lot. It is my first grade 1. I always wanted to win a grade 1. I always tried really hard, but I couldn't. Today was the day. To win these races, it's all about opportunity. I want to thank the owners and trainer for this big opportunity."
Mucho Unusual, who was second in her only other try at a mile and a quarter, was sent off at odds of 3-1 in a field of fillies and mares and paid $8.80 on a $2 win ticket. She increased her record to 5-3-4 from 16 starts with earnings of $702,715. She is out of Krikorian's Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual, making her a half sister to 2017 Transylvania Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3T) winner Big Score, a son of Mr. Big who was also multiple graded stakes-placed. The mare has a maiden 2-year-old gelding by Mr. Big named Big Talker, a yearling filly by Mr. Big, and a Kitten's Joy colt born April 22. She was bred to Uncle Mo for 2020.
"Her mother, Not Unusual, has been a great producer, so it was great to get a grade 1 win on that page for her. It's very gratifying," Yakteen said.
Mucho Unusual had been close in top-level company before, including a runner-up finish in the 2019 American Oaks (G1T) and a third in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) this year.
"This is as big of a win as I've ever had. I haven't had very many grade 1 wins," Yakteen said. "She's been such a hard-knocking filly. She's been knocking on the door with grade 1s, so to pull this out is amazing. She's very easy to train and very straightforward. She makes my job easy."
