Mucho Macho Man guts out Classic victory

Gary Stevens returned to the saddle following a seven-year retirement

already owning nearly every top award and race in the sport. However, the one

prize that eluded the Hall of Fame jockey was a win in the Breeders' Cup

Classic.

On Saturday, during the 30th anniversary of the World Championships, Stevens

was willing the wire to come with every fiber of his being as Mucho Macho Man

gutted out victory in the Grade 1, $4.6 million

Classic

over a hard-charging Will Take Charge with Declaration of War tenaciously

keeping pace.

The margin was a slim nose on the wire, with the photo showing Mucho Macho

Man in front and Stevens triumphantly raising his whip in the air.

"This was a tremendous experience to win this race at my age (50)," an

emotional Stevens said. "I never expected to be in this situation. This is the

ultimate feeling. It's the icing on the cake of my career."

Mucho Macho Man not only gave Stevens his first Classic win, but also saw his

trainer, Kathy Ritvo, become the first female trainer of the richest race in

North America.

That may have turned into a big problem for Declaration of War, being stuck

behind a wall of horses, but the multiple Group 1-winning star found plenty of

room rounding the turn as Moreno and Game On Dude began fading. Fort Larned was

still going strong, but had company by this point in the form of Mucho Macho Man

to his outside.

It was clear Mucho Macho Man was the one to beat entering the stretch.

Declaration of War appeared ready to take up that challenge, but never changed

leads and found himself struggling to get by his immense rival. Will Take Charge

was coming strong down the center of the track and hooked up with Declaration of

War late, but the wire came just in time for Mucho Macho Man and Stevens, who

prior to Saturday owned a 14-0-3-2 mark in the Classic.

Mucho Macho Man was sent off the 4-1 second choice in the 11-horse field and

returned $10 for the score. The Breeders' Cup Distaff/Classic double with

Beholder and Mucho Macho Man paid $18.90.

Will Take Charge rallied from midpack to engage the winner and Declaration of

War, getting his head in front of the latter on the line to take second.

"He's really developed into a beautiful horse and he did everything right

today," Lukas added. "It's just a heartbreak that he lost. He did everything

right. The jump after the wire we got him."

Declaration of War never did change leads but still battled on to the wire to be

third.

"He ran a great race," declared Declaration of War's trainer, Aidan O'Brien.

"He fought all the way to the wire. He was always going nicely and held his

position well. I couldn't believe how well he was going.

"I would like to thank my team for letting me run him here. It's a privilege

to be here...and to be able to bring good horses here. Joseph (O'Brien) did

everything right on the horse."

It was 3 1/4 lengths behind Declaration of War to Fort Larned, who was unable to repeat

his half-length victory over Mucho Macho Man from 12 months ago in this race.

"It is emotional because it's his last race," said Ian Wilkes, who conditions

Fort Larned. "He laid his body down today. My hat's off to Mucho Macho Man. He

made a great comeback. I knew my horse would bring his A game and he did. He

definitely didn't disgrace himself. He put the two speed horses away and they

aren't slouches."

Kathy Ritvo took over training duties on Mucho Macho Man, saddling him to

runner-up finishes in the Nashua and Remsen to close out his juvenile campaign.

The June-born foal found himself on the 2011 Triple Crown Trail and did well

when running fourth in his sophomore bow in the Holy Bull before adding a win in the Risen Star

to his resume at Fair Grounds in mid-February. He followed with a close third in

the Louisiana Derby before showing up for the big dance at Churchill Downs.

In the Kentucky Derby, Mucho Macho Man tracked in midpack before putting in a

nice run to be third on the wire. He then suffered the two worse finishes of his

career when sixth in the Preakness and seventh in the Belmont, and was given the

rest of the summer off. The Florida-bred showed up next at Aqueduct in November

to close out his sophomore season with a 5 3/4-length victory against optional

claiming rivals.

That would be the last time Mucho Macho Man ran in anything but stakes

company. In 2012 he racked up wins in the Sunshine Millions Classic, Gulfstream

Park Handicap and Suburban Handicap while placing in the Alysheba, Woodward and

his half-length second in the Classic. He suffered his only unplaced run since

the 2011 Belmont when pulled up while making his five-year-old bow on January 19

going for a repeat win in the Sunshine Millions Classic.