Mopotism prevails in three-way photo to win La Canada Stakes

By Christine Oser

The Grade 2, $200,000 La Canada Stakes resulted in a three-way finish Saturday at Santa Anita Park, with Reddam Racing, LLC's Mopotism getting her nose down first at the wire.

Third behind Unique Bella and Paradise Woods in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes last out, Mopotism scored her first graded stakes win in thrilling fashion.

"You know, I watched it live and at first I thought she got there but then I saw the replay and thought, 'Oh no! She got bobbed,'" said owner Paul Reddam.

The La Canada instead gave Mopotism her third victory in fifteen lifetime starts after purchased for $300,000 as a 2-year-old for Reddam Racing. Now 4, she has since made $561,200, with Saturday's score her biggest yet.

“This is a good filly,” said trainer Doug O’Neill’s assistant, Leandro Mora. “She’s always been a good filly and we know she can run with any Grade 1 horses. She needs to learn how to win and today should be big step in the right direction. She is more than capable of doing this.” 


Early frontrunner Mended opened the first quarter of the one-mile race in :23.81 just as Gutierrez took advantage of an opening and moved Mopotism up into second. Mended had a length’s advantage through a :47.94 half-mile before Gutierrez again asked Mopotism more, as Mended led three-quarters in 1:12.32. Mopotism continued to chase through the home stretch on the outside, with La Force making a bid on the rail. The three horses hit the wire together, but a photo revealed it was Mopotism who stopped the clock in 1:37.29.

As the 2-1 second choice, the daughter of Uncle Mo returned $6.80, $360 and $3.00.

“The thing about Mopotism is that she has a lot of heart,” Gutierrez said. “We had a better trip this time and I was able to move her even though I had to move her a little earlier than I wanted. She’s fit so she got us to the wire and we got the bob.

“I think she’s a little unlucky. To win these types of races you need a bit of luck sometimes and I think she’s been unlucky at times.”

Mended held for second, followed by La Force. Majestic Heat missed the board as the favorite, suffering her first defeat since a recent switch from turf to dirt.