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Macho Again wins Derby Trial with strong rally West Point Thoroughbreds' MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), who failed to fire in his second attempt on Polytrack in the Lane's End S. (G2) at Turfway Park last month, appreciated the return to dirt on Saturday at Churchill Downs, overtaking 5-2 favorite Kodiak Kowboy (Posse) in the final furlong to take the $115,200 Derby Trial S. by a half-length. Under Julien Leparoux, Macho Again covered 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28 2/5 in a race where the internal fractions were a quick :22 2/5, :45 and 1:09 4/5. The 6-1 fifth choice in a field of nine, Macho Again returned $14.20, $5.60 and $3.80, and keyed the $2 exotics that returned $56.80 (exacta), $416.60 (trifecta) and $1,483.40 (6-4-3-5 superfecta). "He loves the track. He loves the dirt," trainer Dallas Stewart said. "We've just got to keep him off the Polytrack. He trains well over it, but he just doesn't get down and run on it." Kodiak Kowboy, who was also exiting a lackluster effort over Polytrack, that being a distant fourth in the April 6 Lafayette S. at Keeneland, made a nice rally between horses in the stretch but could not overtake the winner. Kodiak Kowboy returned $4 and $3 while finishing two lengths ahead of Fujita (Lion Hearted), who suffered his first defeat in the Derby Trial after winning his first two starts at Gulfstream. Fujita paid $5 to show. Completing the superfecta was Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy), who was followed by Da' Tara (Tiznow), Iron Works Pike (Five Star Day), Eaton's Gift (Johannesburg), Turf War (Dixie Union) and Lemon Spice (Langfuhr). Zulu Magic (Johannesburg) was scratched. The Derby Trial was the first stakes victory in three attempts by Macho Again, who had finished sixth in the Lecomte S. (G3) prior to his effort in the Lane's End. In his two other victories, Macho Again was impressive in winning a seven-furlong maiden at Churchill last fall by 5 1/2 lengths and a six-furlong allowance at Fair Grounds by 4 1/2 lengths two starts ago. Macho Again now sports a career record of 8-3-2-0 with earnings of $143,761. Bred in Florida by Milan Kosanovich, Macho Again is out of the winning Wild Again mare Go Donna Go and has a unnamed two-year-old half-sister by Exchange Rate.
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