Mo Forza (Uncle Mo), last seen besting Neptune's Storm (Stormy Atlantic) in Del Mar's GI Hollywood Derby Nov. 30, seeks his fourth consecutive score in Saturday's GII Mathis Brothers Mile. He broke through at sixth asking over Never Easy (Candy Ride {Arg}) at this course and distance in September, and outran 18-1 odds to take the local GII Twilight Derby Nov. 2 before reaching the highest level Nov. 30. Never Easy has also won twice since that Sept. 29 maiden event–he graduated over another next-out winner Oct. 20, and cleared his first-level allowance condition at Del Mar Nov. 23.
Neptune's Storm has been a picture of consistency all season, never finishing off the board in 10 tries so far in 2019. His signature win came in Belmont's GII Hill Prince S. Oct. 5. He was third as the favorite in the Twilight Derby before again running into Mo Forza last out in the Hollywood Derby. The Richard Baltas trainee is joined by stablemate Bob and Jackie (Twirling Candy) here. That Zayat Stables colorbearer was second down the hill here last October, but has won each of his three starts since then. He defeated Proud Pedro (Fr) (Pedro the Great) and Ocean Fury (Stormy Atlantic) in the restricted Let It Ride S. Nov. 9 down I-5.
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