Back on her home turf in Southern California, Mucho Unusual stalked the pace from the outside then edged away from a field of seven rivals to win the $101,500 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) Dec. 27 at Santa Anita Park.
The George Krikorian homebred won the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) over the same course two starts back, but tired to 12th in the Nov. 7 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.
Trainer Tim Yakteen said he had pretty high expectations for Mucho Unusual going into the 1 1/8-mile Frankel.
"She had been straightforward. We had an outside draw that was a little bit of a concern," he said. "There was lone speed in the race. She is such a dream to train, so easy, so straightforward. She makes my job easy.
"She's my queen," he added. "We don't have a big stable but she's our queen."
Jockey John Velazquez was up Sunday and let Mucho Unusual use her speed from the outside post to sit in second. The 4-year-old Mucho Macho Man filly settled outside of She's Our Charm, who broke from post 2 before setting fractions of :23.72 and :47.90 through the first half-mile. Miss Teheran, who was slightly favored at 5-2 over Mucho Unusual, hesitated at the break and was off slow, but after the half-mile darted up the rail to take over on the inside.
Miss Teheran gained a half-length advantage to lead six furlongs in 1:11.70. Mucho Unusual was three deep as she turned for home, then Velazquez asked her to go once into the stretch. She picked off Miss Teheran and She's Our Charm and gained a head lead while running a mile in 1:35.02. Threatening with a closing kick though was Never Be Enough, who was gaining on the frontrunners as the field approached the finish line.
Still driving toward the wire, Mucho Unusual was able to keep Never Be Enough back by three-quarters of a length as she crossed the wire first. She hit the wire in 1:46.94 on the firm turf.
"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, Joel (Rosario aboard 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 nosed out a stubborn She's Our Charm for second and Miss Teheran faded to fourth. Zee Drop, Rideforthecause, Altea, and Colonial Creed completed the order of finish.
Mucho Unusual was bred in California out of the Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual and is a half sister to grade 3 winner, grade 1-placed Big Score. Since Mucho Unusual, Not Unusual has produced the 2-year-old Mr. Big gelding Big Talker, a yearling filly by Mr. Big, a weanling Kitten's Joy colt, and was reported bred to Uncle Mo for 2021.
Yakteen is considering Mucho Unusual for the Jan. 18 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) going a mile at Santa Anita, but is leaving other options on the table.
"We try to space her races out. We haven't made any plans," he said. "Maybe the Megahertz will be in the play, or not, we'll consider everything and just play it by ear."
From 18 career starts, Mucho Unusual holds a 6-3-4 record and has earned $762,715.
