MOOSE MITCHELL TAKES HOTLY CONTESTED $69,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS AS APPRENTICE HERRERA GETS THIRD WINNER OF THE DAY

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 7, 2022)–Three from the rail in a hotly contested four-horse battle for early supremacy, the George Papaprodromou-trained Moose Mitchell battled favored What in Blazes to deep stretch while prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths in Santa Anita’s $69,000 allowance feature.  With hot apprenctice Diego Herrera bagging his third win of the day, Moose Mitchell got six furlongs in 1:10.94.

With What in Blazes, Franklin One Star, Moose Mitchell and Quick Buck in an all-out battle for the lead, Franklin One Star dropped back mid-way around the far turn and the race boiled down to a two-horse affair leaving the quarter pole.

“My week has been pretty light here at Santa Anita, I rode two on Saturday and two yesterday, but today, I knew I was on live horses,” said Herrera, 17, who now ranks fourth in the Winter Meet standings with 21 wins.  “I won a race yesterday, but today, I knew I had some really good shots.  I thought if I rode smart, I’d have a good chance to win a couple.”

A sharp second at the same level sprinting on turf here Feb. 11, Moose Mitchell was off at 3-1 in a field of five California-bred or sire sophomores and paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.40.

Owned by R L Stables, Moose Mitchell is a 3-year-old gelding by Danzing Candy out of the City Zip mare Sunrise Avenue  Moose Mitchell is now 9-2-3-1 and with today’s winner’s share of $41,400, he has earnings of $134,900.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, What in Blazes raced two from the fence as Franklin One Star forced the issue to his inside and the winner kept the pressure on from the outside around the turn.  Trained by John Sadler, What in Blazes stayed gamely but tired late to finish 3 ¼ lengths in front of Quick Buck.

Off as the 8-5 favorite, What in Blazes paid $3.00 and $2.40.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Quick Buck raced on the far outside to the far turn, was shuffled back a bit five sixteenths out and was easily third best, finishing five lengths in front of Franklin One Star.  Off at 3-1, Quick Buck paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.45, 45.48 and 57.81.

Racing resumes with first post time for an eight-race card on Friday at 12:30 p.m.