Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man set for rematch

Defending Breeders'

Cup Classic champion Fort Larned galloped 1 1/2 miles Friday morning with regular

exercise rider Katie Merritt up.

"We are good to go here, no excuses," trainer Ian Wilkes

said.

Last year, Fort Larned led all the way to win the Classic,

an event that changed things for Wilkes this time around.

"I have done a lot more interviews this year," Wilkes said. "Last year, we

were way under the radar."

Wilkes sees the key to Saturday's Classic as the break.

"You can talk about the shape of the race, but the most

important key to the race is the break," Wilkes said. "What if Game On Dude

doesn't break well like he did last year? What if Moreno doesn't break well?

What if we don't break well?

"That's why I will leave it all up to (jockey) Brian (Hernandez Jr.)"

Fort Larned may go to the track in the morning.

"I may take him out there; I'll see how he feels," Wilkes

said. "I didn't take him last year, but I have an inkling that I may tomorrow. I

do it by gut feel."

Reeves

Thoroughbred Racing's Mucho Macho Man prepared for a start in Saturday's Classic

by taking a jog around the track Friday morning.

"He's ready to run," trainer Kathy Ritvo declared.

Ritvo is hoping Mucho Macho Man can better his close

second-place finish behind Fort Larned in last year's Classic, but she has

respect for her five-year-old veteran's competition.

"It's going to be a good race. I was sorry to see Ron the

Greek scratch. I really am. I like all these horses. We've been running against

these horses for a long time," Ritvo said. "They're all such nice horses."

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