Medoro circumvents Thought Process in John C. Mabee

Hot-riding Juan Hernandez employed his own thought process to lift Medoro past 3-5 favorite Thought Process in Monday’s $252,500 John C. Mabee (G2), the closing-day feature at Del Mar.

Aware that Thought Process could put the race away quickly with her turn of foot, Hernandez made sure to stoke Medoro up early to move in tandem with the favorite. The gambit worked, and Medoro outlasted Thought Process down the lane to earn her biggest career victory.

Runner-up in last year’s Mabee, C R K Stable’s homebred Medoro was returning to her original Southern California circuit for the first time this season. The Peter Eurton mare wintered at Fair Grounds before a stint in Kentucky, with mixed results that prompted a West Coast homecoming. 

Yet Medoro still had a recency edge over Thought Process, who had not raced since capturing the Gamely (G1) on Memorial Day, May 25. Foot problems prevented her from being ready for the Aug. 8 Yellow Ribbon (G2), as reported by Daily Racing Form, and trainer Phil D’Amato had to work with a longer break between races than planned. 

Thought Process took up her usual close tracking position, observing the 19-1 Pura Vida Princesa, who led the way through fractions of :24.14, :47.90, and 1:12.17. Medoro was reserved in fourth until the field entered the far turn, when she advanced to flank Thought Process. 

That prompted Hector Berrios to move on Thought Process, but Medoro stuck right with her into the stretch. Although Thought Process kept trying to find more, the 3.30-1 second choice had the upper hand. Medoro ($8.60) edged away from the stubborn favorite by a length, completing 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:47.61

“Juan had her in such a good spot,” Eurton recapped. “He said down the backside he thought he had to go get the filly (Thought Process) early, and what a kick she had today.”

Hernandez was scoring his 14th stakes win of the Del Mar meet, almost equaling Flavien Prat’s record of 15 set in 2020. His hopes of tying that mark ended when Net Par, his mount in the $100,500 I’m Smokin S. earlier on the card, was a distant second to Early Encore. 

Thought Process, who was spotting four pounds as the 124-pound highweight, was easily best of the rest by 1 3/4 lengths. Bojaca Blessing was third at every call, albeit barely clinging to the show spot from the rallying Baltic Fire. Whiskey Decision, Canto Della Terra, Fibonaccis Ride, Firenze Flavor, Vincey Girl, and Pura Vida Princesa rounded out the order of finish. 

Medoro improved her record to 18-7-4-5, $828,278, while competing exclusively in stakes ever since her debut maiden win. The daughter of Honor Code was a prominent player on this circuit as a youngster. 

The winner of the Blue Norther S., China Doll S., and Providencia (G3) during the 2023-24 meet at Santa Anita, Medoro placed in the Del Mar Oaks (G1), American Oaks (G1), San Clemente H. (G2), and Autumn Miss (G3). She remained consistent during a four-year-old campaign in the second half of 2025, adding the Osunitas S. to her ledger along with placings in the Mabee and Goldikova (G3). 

Medoro made a winning Fair Grounds debut in the Jan. 17 Marie G. Krantz Memorial, but she was overturned as the odds-on favorite in the Albert M. Stall Memorial. A fine third in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland, she regressed a bit thereafter. Her latest result was a third in the Aug. 2 Sunkissed S. at Ellis Park, but she looked right at home by the seaside.

“Anytime she wins it’s nice, especially here back home in a Grade 2,” Eurton said. “It feels good. I thought she would do better back East, but I think the soft going got her. That’s what I told Lee (Searing of C R K Stable), and that’s why he let me bring her out here. The firm grass sure helped.”

The Kentucky-bred is out of the multiple stakes-placed English Channel mare Achira, from the family of 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) shocker Giacomo. Also hailing from this immediate female line are current Poker (G3) winner Pass the Hat and promising young sire Nashville.