Mucho Unusual

George Krikorian's homebred Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man--Not Unusual, by Unusual Heat), 2020's California-bred Horse of the Year, champion older female and turf horse thanks to a campaign that included a victory in the GI Rodeo Drive S. that September, has been retired at the age of six. "The decision has been made to retire G1 winner and Cal-Bred Horse of the Year Mucho Unusual," tweeted trainer Tim Yakteen. "We are sad to see her leave the barn, she has been so special to and for all of us. She...

Trainer Richard Baltas sends out expected favorite GI Rodeo Drive S. winner Going to Vegas (Goldencents) in Saturday's GII Buena Vista S. at Santa Anita. Last seen finishing 11th in a 12-horse field after setting the early pace in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Going to Vegas shook off the rust with a five-furlong drill in 1:00 (2/20) Feb. 26 in Arcadia. Flavien Prat, who won the GII John C. Mabee S. aboard the 5-year-old mare last September, has the mount. To win, she'll have...

George Krikorian's homebred Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), winner of last year's GI Rodeo Drive S., was named California-bred Horse of the Year for 2020 during Monday's annual awards presentation by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The mare was also named the state's champion older female and turf horse. Other Cal-bred champions announced during Monday's teleconference were: Big Fish (Mr. Big) and Good With People (Curlin to Mischief) (tied for 2yo male); Governor Goteven (Govenor Charlie) (2yo female); El Tigre Terrible (Smiling Tiger) (3yo male); Warren's Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) (3yo...

Do these things really even out? Who knows? All you can say for certain is that the satisfaction, as and when the wheel turns back in your favor, is all the more profound; and that any neutral, accordingly, should be rooting for Tim Yakteen at the Breeders' Cup. Like most horsemen, the Californian trainer has learned a wholesome fatalism. He doesn't dwell on what happened seven years ago this week. After all, he has based a whole career on the lessons available in experience of every kind, good and bad--whether...

George Krikorian's homebred Mucho Unusual went wire-to-wire to win the GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita Saturday and earn an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf. Tonahutu took the lead from her inside post in the early strides, but Mucho Unusual strode past her down the stretch for the first time. The bay filly loped along through pedestrian splits, scampered further clear rounding the final bend and resolutely held off Maxim Rate late, while late-closing favorite Lady Prancealot did her best to close into the slow...

Fox Hill Farms Inc.'s exciting Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) makes her first two-turn North American start in Saturday's GII Buena Vista S. at Santa Anita. A perfect three-for-three in Brazil, capped by a six-length romp going a mile over heavy ground in the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club Brasileiro at Gavea last June, the chestnut was subsequently sold privately and turned over to Richard Mandella. She debuted in the Fox Hill red and white in the local GIII Las Cienegas S. Jan. 11, scoring by 1 1/4 while lowering the...

Marcus Stables' Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) has made her bones as a sprinter thus far in her young career, but the Wesley Ward trainee ships across the country and stretches out as a lukewarm morning-line favorite in a wide-open renewal of Saturday's GII San Clemente S. at Del Mar. A first-out victress last spring at Keeneland, the bay faded to 13th in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S., then returned to the States to post a 10-1 upset of the Bolton Landing S. last August at Saratoga. Tenth against males in...