Princesa Moche Wins First Stakes in Three-Way Photo Upset at Santa Anita

Princesa Moche edged past Vibez and Will Then in a head-bobbing three-way photo to capture the Grade III Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita Park, covering one mile on turf in an official time of 1:36.09. Ridden by Mirco Demuro for trainer Doug O’Neill and owned by Rancho San Roberto Inc., the Peruvian import notched her first stakes victory in the $100,000 feature after stalking the pacesetter and digging in late.

Going Lucky set moderate fractions of 23.73, 48.63 and 1:13.16 for six furlongs, with Princesa Moche settling in second through the early stages. Entering the stretch she appeared vulnerable, but she rallied tenaciously to prevail in the photo finish. Vibez was narrowly second and Will Then, aboard Mike Smith for trainer Jonathan Thomas, completed the photo for third; morning-line favorite Public Assembly finished fourth. Going Lucky had been listed at 12-1 when influencing the pace.

The race produced bet-driven market movement, with multiple outlets reporting Princesa Moche was bet down to the 5-2 favorite. Returns listed by The Press Box showed Princesa Moche paid $7.00 to win, with a win-place-show sequence of $7.00, $4.20 and $2.80; Vibez returned $4.60 and $3.80 on place and show, while Will Then paid $3.60 on the board. Exacta and multi-race pools were not reported in the available excerpts.

The victory advances a clear U.S. forward trajectory for Princesa Moche. Imported from Peru last year, she captured a one-mile allowance at Del Mar in November and set the pace before finishing second by a half-length to Queen Maxima in the Las Cienegas (G3) on Jan. 11. The Megahertz was her second time around two turns in the United States, and the result pushes her career ledger to 39: 12-4-5 with earnings reported at more than $170,000.

Beyond the individual triumph, the race underscores two industry trends. First, international bloodlines and South American imports continue to influence the West Coast turf picture, offering owners like Rancho San Roberto a cost-effective path to graded-stakes prominence. Second, the betting action around Princesa Moche reflects bettors’ appetite for form lines that combine recent U.S. success with tactical versatility on turf. For trainers and owners, a first stakes win also materially enhances a mare’s future value as a stakes-proven broodmare prospect.

A pair of technical details remain inconsistent across reports: her age is variously listed as 4 and 5 years old, and one brief cited a carried weight of 8-8. Official race charts will confirm age, weight and final mutuel tallies. For now, Princesa Moche’s gritty Megahertz score reshapes Santa Anita’s older-filly-and-mare turf division and gives racegoers and handicappers a new profile to watch as the spring stakes season approaches.