Princesa Moche Triumphs in the Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita

Arcadia, CA – Princesa Moche, a 6-year-old Peruvian mare, secured victory in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Santa Anita Park. The race, contested at one mile on turf, saw Princesa Moche finish neck-and-neck with Vibez, with Will Then finishing third.

Race Results

The final order of finish was as follows:

• 1st: Princesa Moche (ridden by Mirco Demuro)
• 2nd: Vibez (ridden by Juan J. Hernandez)
• 3rd: Will Then (ridden by Mike E. Smith)
• 4th: Public Assembly (ridden by Hector Isaac Berrios)
• 5th: Going Lucky (ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez)
• 6th: Sigh No More (ridden by Kazushi Kimura)
• 7th: My Perfect Wave (ridden by Emisael Jaramillo)
• 8th: Baltic Fire (ridden by Cesar Belmont)
• 9th: Violeta M (ridden by Victor Espinoza)

Trainer Insights

Philip D’Amato entered two horses in the Megahertz Stakes: Public Assembly and Sigh No More. Public Assembly, previously favored in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes on January 8th, finished fourth in the Megahertz after a slow start. D’Amato noted that Public Assembly needs to be stalking the pace to be competitive, but struggled to gain into position due to slow fractions.

Sigh No More, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly recently acquired by R Unicorn Stable and transferred to D’Amato from trainer Brendan Walsh, finished sixth in her local debut. D’Amato indicated the filly was sent to California in search of firmer ground and expressed optimism after observing her training with jockey Kazushi Kimura.

Key Contenders

Prior to the race, Public Assembly was considered a strong contender, but ultimately fell short. Vibez, finishing a close second, demonstrated strong performance. Will Then also showed promise, securing third place.

Looking Ahead

Several of the horses competing in the Megahertz Stakes are likely to continue their campaigns in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes. Trainers will assess their horses’ performances and adjust strategies accordingly for the upcoming race.

Source: BloodHorse, Horse Racing Nation, Yahoo Sports