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Mucho Macho Man readies for Sunshine Millions Classic
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| Mucho Macho Man, who captured last year's
Risen Star, is set to return at Gulfstream in the Sunshine Millions Classic
(Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography) |
In preparation for a scheduled start in the $400,000 Florida Sunshine
Millions Classic on January 28, Mucho Macho Man breezed an easy five furlongs in
1:03 1/5 over the fast track at Gulfstream Park on Friday morning. Exercise
rider Nick Petro Jr. was up for trainer Kathy Ritvo.
The four-year-old son of Macho Uno is coming off a sharp allowance win at
Aqueduct on November 9, his first start since competing in all three Triple
Crown races. Pleased with the sensational manner in which her strapping colt
bounced back from the five-month layoff, Ritvo has patiently prepared him for
his 2012 debut.
"It just allows a big horse like this to get back into himself and prepare
for his next race," Ritvo explained. "It's tough; he's a big, huge horse. He's
got a big shoulder and a lot more muscle. He looks good."
Mucho Macho Man, who didn't actually turn three until just after the Triple
Crown was completed in June, captured the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair
Grounds last spring before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby. One of only
three colts to run in all three classics, joining Derby winner Animal Kingdom
and Preakness victor Shackleford, Mucho Macho Man has impressed his trainer with
his resiliency and subsequent development.
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"He's feeling good. He's doing everything right," Ritvo said. "Hopefully, if
we do the right thing, he'll have a great year."
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, which owns Mucho Macho Man in partnership with
Dream Team One Racing, recently purchased Silver Menace, a three-year-old who
showed promised during a troubled sixth-place finish in last Sunday's $100,000
Gulfstream Park Derby.
The son of Silver Wagon raced as a ridgling in the first Derby of 2012, but
he'll return to action as a gelding.
"I think he was racing a little wide if you watched the head-on. We wanted to
do whatever we can do to free him," Ritvo said. "I really like the horse. I
think he's going to be a nice horse."
Silver Menace broke slowly and was subsequently steadied on the first turn in
the Gulfstream Derby.
"He didn't break well. I think he wanted to be closer than he was," Ritvo
said. "I think the horse was frustrated. But he ran okay and got tired. We only
had him a week, it was good to tell us where he was."
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