Rodeo Drive Stakes
MUCHO TALENT MUCHO UNUSUAL CHARGES TO VICTORY IN RODEO DRIVE STAKES
BY TRACY GANTZ
Honor A. P. might have made splashier headlines, being on the Triple Crown trail. He fnished fourth in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) before heading to stud. But Krikorian sold Honor A. P. as a yearling to Lee and Susan Searing, whereas he races Mucho Unusual. Te Rodeo Drive marked a major milestone for Mucho Unusual and her family. “Getting a grade 1 for this mare, Not Unusual, is super satisfying,” said trainer Tim Yakteen. “She’s been a great producer, but we haven’t had a grade 1 on her page yet.” Krikorian purchased Not Unusual for $67,000 at the 2007 Barretts October yearling sale. California leading breeder Betty Mabee and her son, Larry, bred Not Unusual (Unusual Heat—Fly First Class, by General Meeting) in California, and the flly won three races and earned $70,347 for Krikorian. As a broodmare, Not Unusual gets runners, even those without black type. Big Score, a Kentucky-bred son of Krikorian’s California sire Mr. Big, won the 2017 Transylvania Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3T) and 2016 Zuma Beach Stakes. Mucho Unusual, a daughter of
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eorge Krikorian is having an incredible year as a breeder, both of California-breds and Kentucky-breds. He got his second grade 1 winner when Calbred Mucho Unusual scored in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Sept. 26, following Kentucky-bred Honor A. P.’s winning the June 6 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1).
George Kirkorian’s California homebred Mucho Unusual opens a grade 1 account in the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita
Mucho Macho Man, is Not Unusual’s ffth foal and frst Cal-bred, having been born at E.A. Ranches. Te mare has two subsequent foals by Mr. Big and a weanling Kitten’s Joy colt. In the Golden State Stakes program, Mucho Unusual fnished second at 2 in the 2018 Golden State Juvenile Fillies and added the California Cup Oaks early in 2019. She stepped up to graded company by taking the 2019 San Clemente Stakes (G2T). Since then, it has been all graded attempts, with several placings, until a third in the Aug. 15 Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar. “She got a little nervous on us at Del Mar,” said Yakteen. Tat changed back at Santa Anita, where everything went perfectly for the 11⁄4-mile Rodeo Drive. “Te flly went into the paddock and saddled up great for us,” said Yakteen. “Tis time she just did everything textbook, like you’d want.” Juan Hernandez rode Mucho Unusual against fve others in the Rodeo Drive.
Lady Prancealot, a multiple graded winner by California sire Sir Prancealot, went of as the 7-5 favorite, with Mucho Unusual the 3-1 third choice. “Tey let me go to the lead easily, so I took it,” said Hernandez. “Ten the rest of the race the flly did by herself.” Mucho Unusual went to the front early in the race and led through every call. Her rivals allowed her to run the frst half-mile in a tepid :49.52, and when they tried to mount a challenge, Mucho Unusual was able to hold of everyone. She defeated Maxim Rate by 11⁄4 lengths in 2:00.19, with Lady Prancealot third. “She’s been knocking on the door with grade 1s,” said Yakteen. “So to pull this out is amazing.” Yakteen also paid tribute to Tony Burton and the staf at Krikorian’s Starwood Farm in Kentucky. Mucho Unusual isn’t Krikorian’s only Cal-bred stakes winner this year. He also bred Big Fish, winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, and Big Sweep, winner of the Echo Eddie Stakes and Fleet Treat Stakes.
www.ctba.com ❙ October 2020 ❙ CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED
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