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No better way to kick off the South Florida road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) than with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Monday (Jan. 1).
The race is named for Mucho Macho Man, a Florida bred who won the 2013 Breeder’ Cup Classic (G1) for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Frank Stronach, who owns Gulfstream Park.
Mucho Macho Man, named for the hit song “Macho Man” by The Village People, won the Florida Sunshine Millions in 2012 and 2014, and the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) in 2012. He earned $5.6 million with a record of 25-9-5-6.
Trainer’s Dilemma: Inveigled’s Quick Return and Graded Race Prospects
Inveigled, a winner three weeks ago on an optional claiming allowance, is the 9-5 favorite in a field of eight entered for the 1-mile Mucho Macho Man for 3-year-olds.
While the race is not a points qualifier for the Derby, it’s a testing ground for upcoming Gulfstream Park Derby preps, starting with Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 3, which offers 10-5-3-2-1 points to the first five finishers.
“I don’t particularly like coming back in three weeks, but I also don’t want to go right into graded company,” trainer Jane Cibelli said. “So, I thought this was a good start. If he runs well or wins, we could look at graded races.”
The Indiana-bred gelding stalked the lead and pulled away for a 4 ¾-length win on Dec. 9 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has the call again from post 6.
Stakes Debut Showdown: Otello, First World War, and Boy Magic Heat Up!
Otello is the 3-1 second choice, coming off a debut win going a mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 4. He is trained by Christophe Clement and will have Luis Saez aboard for the first time leaving from post 3.
First World War, trained by Brendan Walsh, makes his stakes debut on dirt after a strong second in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs on Nov. 9. He is the 7-2 third choice. Tyler Gaffalione has the return call from post 4.
A 3-year-old to watch in this one is Boy Magic, a son of Good Magic with a 2-for-2 record making his stakes debut. Paco Lopez rides from post 2 for trainer Jorge Delgado.
The picks: 1 Otello 2 Boy Magic 3 Inveigled
The field for the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 No More Time (Jose Ortiz, Jose D’Angelo), 6-1
2 Boy Magic (Paco Lopez, Jorge Delgado), 10-1
3 Otello (Luis Saez, Christophe Clement), 3-1
4 First World War (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh), 7-2
5 Orb Alpha (Edgar Perez, Padarath Lutchman), 50-1
6 Inveigled (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jane Cibelli), 9-5
7 Everdoit (Edgard Zayas, Kevin Rice), 30-1
8 Sea Streak (Luca Panici, Eddie Owens, Jr.), 5-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
