Miller trainee Mo Forza upsets Twilight Derby in stakes debut

The first big upset of Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Santa Anita Park came not in a championship race, but from Mo Forza in the Grade 2, $200,000 Twilight Derby.

Peter Miller trains the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo, who stalked pace-setting Kingly through fractions of :23.54, :47.32 and 1:11.16 in the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes.

Joel Rosario moved Mo Forza up to the outside of Kingly as the field exited the second turn. The 18-1 shot took over with a furlong to go and moved on to stop the clock in 1:46.18.

Succeedandsurpass edged 3-1 post-time favorite Neptune’s Storm for second. The Richard Baltas-trained Neptune’s Storm entered off an Oct. 5 victory in Belmont Park’s Hill Prince Stakes (G2).

Among other notable entries, Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) winner Henley’s Joy missed the board and Kentucky Derby runner Gray Magician scratched.

An Uncle Mo colt, Mo Forza needed six tries before finally breaking his maiden Sept. 29 at Santa Anita. Saturday marked the Kentucky-bred’s first stakes try for owners Bardy Farm and OG Boss.

Mo Forza gave Miller a stakes victory to kick off what the trainer hopes is a championship-winning day for his operation. He’ll send Spiced Perfection to the gates for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Belvoir Bay, Om and Stormy Liberal in the Turf Sprint and Mo See Cal in the Distaff.