Santa Anita: Quattroelle rallies from last, takes Megahertz

In a dramatic finish, Jeff Mullins-trained Quattroelle surged late to take Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes by a half-length, getting the flat mile over the Santa Anita turf in 1:35.04.

While the original plan was to be attentive to the pace, jockey Hector Berrios went to plan B and, instead, tracked the field while last by about four lengths around the far turn and split horses inside the sixteenth pole to overhaul John Velazquez and Bay Storm when it counted.

A 5-year-old Irish-bred mare, Quattroelle, who was an ungraded stakes winner for Mullins at age two, came off an even third place finish going a mile and one eighth on turf in Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Dec. 31.

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Quattroelle picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $292,772. Her record is 14: 4-3-3.

“We were a little concerned about the distance, but it was really our only opportunity to run her, so this is where we ended up,” Mullins said. “Hector’s done a great job with this filly. I don’t speak Spanish and he doesn’t speak English, but we got it going on right now.”

Bay Storm, who showed the way and fought off all challengers except the winner, ran a big race in defeat under Velazquez, finishing a half length in front of Closing Remarks. The second choice in the race at 3-1, Bay Storm returned $5.60 and $3.80.

Ridden by Joe Bravo, Closing Remarks, the lone California-bred in the field, checked in third, a neck in front of longshot One Silk Stocking and paid $3.40 to show while off at 9-2.

School Dance, the 2-1 favorite with Frankie Dettori, tired late to finish fifth, about 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Fractions on the race were 23.37, 48.09, 1:12.35 and 1:23.75.