Mucho Macho Man, who captured the $500,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic
last season, will launch his 2013 season with a title defense in showcase of the
six-race $1.3 million event for Florida-bred horses at Gulfstream Park on
January 19.
“We thought it was the ideal place to start,” said trainer Kathy Ritvo, who
worked with Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s stable manager, Finn Green, on the
decision to target the 1 1/8-race Classic.
The soon-to-be five-year-old launched a highly successful 2012 campaign with
a 1 1/2-length triumph over Ron the Greek in 1 1/8-mile Classic. The son of
Macho Uno went on to win the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap and Grade 2
Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, before finishing a troubled second in the
Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga. He completed his season with a close second-place
finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which he engaged Fort Larned
during a thrilling stretch-long duel, only to fall a half-length short of
victory.
“On Saturday morning, he’ll go three-eighths of a mile in preparation for the
Sunshine Millions here on the 19th of January,” Green said. “It’s a great race
to go back into after the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a fantastic race for him to get
back.”
Mucho Macho Man, who picked up $900,000 for his stirring runner-up finish at
Santa Anita on November 3, has earned $2.3 million in purses. He’s come
painfully close, but he has yet to win a Grade 1 stakes. His connections had the
option to bypass the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic in favor of the Grade 1,
$500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on February 9.
“He’ll catch plenty of Grade 1s this year, but this is best race to go into
after that race,” Green said.
The Florida Sunshine Millions will be conducted as a prelude to the 44th
annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, which will be held for the first time at a
racetrack on the evening of January 19 in Gulfstream Park’s Sport of Kings
facility.
Mucho Macho Man will prepare for his first start of the season with his first
workout since his brilliant performance from his outside post position in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“He’s done great. He’s come out of the race great,” Ritvo said. “He came out
fantastic and he’s shown us all the right signs.”
Mucho Macho Man’s connections said they’ll take his 2013 campaign one race at
a time.
“We have a plan, but we’re just going to start with this one,” Ritvo said.
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