A field of 10 line up in Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park. (Photo credit: Gulfstream Park)
It is not a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, but the results of Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man may give a few connections Derby fever.
A field of 10 three-year-olds line up in the one-mile test on the main track. The Todd Pletcher trained Mutasaabeq is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
The colt makes his first start since running 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The colt looked like he might be a major force on turf after his victory in the Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland in October in his turf debut, but now Pletcher is switching things up.
“I think he’s versatile like we see with most Into Mischiefs. We’ve seen them run on both surfaces,” Pletcher said. “We’d like to see him on dirt again to help clarify that.”
His main rival appears to be the Kelly Breen trained Pickin’ Time (3-1) who was fourth in the slop in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct in his last outing. He won the Nashua (G3) two back going a mile.
The Mucho Macho Man is one of five stakes on today’s 11-race card at Gulfstream Park. Four of those races are included in today’s Best Plays Report.
The feature at Aqueduct today is the $100,000 Gravesand going 6 ½ furlongs. The race drew a compact field of five including Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) runner up Stan the Man and My Boy Tate, who was second in a New York Stallion Series race in his last outing.
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Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Gulfstream Park Race 10 The Mucho Macho Man (4:45 ET)
7 Pickin’ Time 3-1
5 Mutasaabeq 5-2
10 Big Thorn 5-1
6 Awesome Gerry 6-1
Pickin’ Time
The Breen trainee shipped down from New York where last out the colt did not handle the sloppy track in the Remsen (G2) where he checked in a non-threatening fourth. The Breen trainee came into that race off an impressive win in the Nashua (G3) two back going a one turn mile. The colt stalked the early pace and drew away in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths. He as being pointed toward the Jerome but the prospects of another wet track sent this guy south and he fits well in this spot and likes a one turn mile. He should bounce back with a much better effort in this spot.
Mutasaabeq
This colt is back on the main track after a 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last out at Keeneland over good ground. He broke his maiden on the main track at the Spa in his debut going 5 12 furlongs, then was third in the Hopeful (G1). He switched to turf in the Bourbon (G2) where he went two turns for the first time and after being last early came with a good late rally while very wide and drew off late. The Pletcher barn is 19% winners moving runners from route to sprint. The $425,000 Keeneland purchase has been working sharply at Palm beach Downs since his last effort.
Big Thorn
This guy caught a muddy track last out in the off the turf Juvenile Turf at GP West. The colt tracked the early pace, took over the lead heading for home and won easily by 4 1/2 lengths in a sharp effort. He has shown improvement with each start and looks very capable of handling the extra furlong here. The Fawkes trainee is by The Big Beat out of a Super Saver mare, her first foal to race. He is going to need another move forward to mix it up with the top pair.
