While rumors swirl over exactly where the Breeders’ Cup will be held after 2014, we know for sure that this fall the big event will be held at Santa Anita. And we also know that Moonhine Mullin has already earned a berth in the Classic field after his gutsy win in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on Saturday night.
The modestly-bred Moonshine Mullin has run for $40,000 claiming tag year but was a runner with apparent promise earlier in his career. After breaking his maiden in his second start as a juvenile in November of 2010, he was runner-up in the Display Stakes in his next outing. During his sophomore campaign he was the winner of the Victoria Park Stakes by a nose over eventual Sovereign Award winner Alpha Bettor. His following start was a second place finish (at 37-1) to multiple Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. For the next two-plus seasons, though, the bay horse could manage only a pair wins at the Allowance/Optional Claiming level.
Then the calendar turned to 2014 and Moonshine Mullin turned into a monster.
On January 20 the Randy Morse-trainee placed third in an Optional Claimer at Oaklawn Park. He hasn’t lost since, winning an Optional Claimer next time (in which he was entered for a $40,000 tag), then a straight $80,000 claimer, then another Optional Claimer (no tag this time). Then came the stakes races. There were two Grade 1 winners and two more Classic-placed runners in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day but Moonshine Mullin beat them all. Those two Grade 1 winners, champion Will Take Charge and fellow Travers Stakes (G1) winner Golden Ticket, were back again for the Stephen Foster along with multiple Graded winners like Revolutionary and Departing. Moonshine Mullin again used his speed and grit under jockey Calvin Borel to repulse all challengers to get the money. His speed and courage are traits he likely inherited from his sire.
Moonshine Mullin is by Albert the Great, a son of 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin. A leading runner of his generation for the owner/trainer combination of Tracy Farmer and Nick Zito, Albert the Great won the 2000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and placed in six other Grade 1 events, including the Breeders Cup Classic (G1). After spending his early days at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky he now stands at Pin Oak Lane Farm in Pennsylvania. While he’s averages but a single stakes winner in each of his first nine crops, Moonshine Mullin is Albert the Great’s third career Grade 1 winner after Wood Memorial winner Nobiz Like Shobiz and Donn Handicap/Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Albertus Maximus.
The Whitney Handicap (G1) is the next logical spot for any top handicap horse in the midwest and east coast. Moonshine Mullin has proven he belongs in a race like that and, more importantly, he’s proved he’s Breeders’ Cup-worthy.
(originally published on http://www.myfantasystable.com)
Matt O'Neil Consulting 