Mucho Macho Man returns a winner

One of only three horses to contest every leg of this year's Triple Crown,

Mucho Macho Man returned to the races with a sharp front-running performance at

Aqueduct on Wednesday, winning a one-mile optional claimer by a widening 5

3/4-length margin. The Grade 2-winning colt established fractions of :23 1/5,

:46 1/5 and 1:09 4/5 before stopping the teletimer in 1:34 3/5 on the fast

track. Ramon Dominguez had the mount.

"He's been training great, so I thought he would run well today," trainer

Kathy Ritvo said. "I really didn't expect anything -- I just wanted to get a

good race into him for a comeback."

Mucho Macho Man was making his first start since a seventh in the Grade 1

Belmont Stakes in June.

The bay son of Macho Uno broke on top and received brief pressure before

shaking loose on the backstretch.

"We didn't have an established plan; we were just kind of playing it by ear,"

Dominguez said of his trip. "I wasn't going to be surprised if both the four

(Gallant Fields) and the five (Southern Ridge) would go for the lead, but he

broke superb and made the lead very much within himself, very easy. He was just

on cruise control; turning for home he switched leads right and just took off

again."

Off as the 7-5 second choice among six rivals, Mucho Macho Man paid $4.90,

$3.10 and $2.60.

Gallant Fields rallied for second, 1 1/4 lengths better than third-placer

Praetereo. Southern Ridge, the slight 7-5 favorite, came next in fourth and was

followed by More Than a Reason and Silent Money. Mineswept was scratched.

It was Mucho Macho Man's first win since taking the Grade 2 Risen Star in

February at the Fair Grounds. Following that race, he finished third in both the

Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and was sixth in the Grade 1

Preakness prior to the Belmont.

Ritvo, who trains Mucho Macho Man for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream

Team One Racing Stable, said she has not yet looked beyond the comeback race.

"We definitely have some options, but we'll wait to see how he comes out of

the race and go from there."

Mucho Macho Man now claims a win and two runner-up efforts at Aqueduct,

having finished behind To Honor and Serve in both the Grade 2 Nashua and the

Grade 2 Remsen a year ago. He has posted a record of 3-3-3 from 12 total starts

and has earned $643,643.

"It is wonderful to have him back," Dean Reeves said. "He looked very

impressive out there today. He is a young three-year-old and Kathy (Ritvo) has

done a tremendous job with him, by taking the time needed and allowing him to

mature. We hope he is going to be a major player next year."