Miss Mo the Mostest in 2015

Miss Mo has exceeded her connections’ expectations, as her dam was only a claimer. Interestingly enough, her dam was bred and raced by me before she was claimed by kashbarn. Kashbarn has gotten into the habit of naming his fillies “Miss” and since her sire was Uncle Mo, the name is a blend of the two.

The lithe grey filly was sparingly raced in 2015, but fired big almost every time she set foot on the track, winning four of her six starts. Her sophomore debut was a tough event, as she was facing older males early in the year in a sprint. In a field of 20, she would finish midpack.

Her season began in earnest with a listed stakes held in March, the Silence of the Sky Stakes. In that race was Three Olive Barb, who would go on to win the Black Middle Flower Stakes-G2, and Breeders’ Bowl Turf Filly-G1 runner up Lopeki, who was making her turf debut. Miss Mo showed that she was even better routing, with a handy gate to wire effort, posting a flashy 104 SF in the process.

Her next start was a class test in the Miss Consolation-G1. The morning line favorite was Mr. P’s Meds, who had won four straight, including the Lady Bourbon-G3. Also in the field was future G1 winner Distasteful Manner. This time, Miss Mo had to battle Mr. P’s Meds for the lead, and after putting that rival away, had to muster the energy to hold off the late charge of Kissing Love. The diminuitive grey held that rival safe by 1 3/4 lengths, and earned a 106 SF for the effort. In the process, she became Kashbarn’s first G1 winner.

From there, it was on to the Sister Hen-G1 and a matchup with Bluegrass Oaks-G1 winner R U Lying. Dismissed by the bettors, Miss Mo proved them all wrong, sitting just behind the early pace of Gyro Di and Macho Chicken before kicking clear of the latter to win by an emphatic 2 1/2 lengths. R U Lying had to settle for fourth in the bulky field. Miss Mo earned another 106 SF to go with her previous race.

The little filly with the big heart now had a possible return trip to Kentucky: the Breeders’ Bowl. Miss Mo would race only once during that four month period – the Birmingham Stakes-G1. The extra distance and time off caught up with her, because after leading the first nine furlongs, Miss Mo faded to fifth in the final furlong. Still, fifth against a top field with a 105 SF was no disgrace, and it turned out to be just the tightener she needed.

Miss Mo’s final start of the year was the Breeders’ Bowl Distaff-G1. She was facing older fillies, and the bettors dismissed her at 22/1. Speed kills, however, and Miss Mo, under a smart ride by N Lawton, bounced out of the gate and never looked back, coasting home to a three length victory. A host of G1 winners were left in her wake. The filly posted a lifetime best speed figure of 112. The victory sealed divisional honors, as it put her over the top in terms of earnings in an otherwise tight race. Congratulations to Miss Mo and her connections on a wonderful campaign!