Macho takes New Orleans

Macho Again splashed home in the New Orleans (Lynn Roberts)

West Point Thoroughbreds’ MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) collared pacesetter Secret
Getaway (Skip Away) in deep stretch and drew clear to a one-length upset in
Saturday’s $500,000
New
Orleans H. (G2). Ridden by a red-hot Robby Albarado, who was garnering his
fourth victory on the program, Macho Again was content to rate far back over the
sloppy Fair Grounds track through opening splits in :23, :46 3/5 and 1:11 1/5.
The gray four-year-old began picking up off rivals on the far turn, but he still
had plenty left to do turning for home.

Secret Getaway shook loose of It’s a Bird (Birdonthewire) at the top of the
stretch and passed the mile mark with a one-length advantage in 1:36 4/5. Macho
Again, the 10-1 seventh choice in the 11-horse field, was the only one with a
shot to catch the game front runner, and he ran him down on the far outside in
the final furlong, finishing up 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 1/5. The Dallas
Stewart-trained winner returned $23.60, $10 and $7.
Secret Getaway, 2 1/4 lengths clear of third at 9-1, gave back $10 and $6.40,
and It’s a Bird, the nearly 5-1 second choice, held third by 2 3/4 lengths and
paid $5. The exacta was worth $238.20, the trifecta $2,046.80 and the 11-3-1-4
superfecta, with the 5-1 Dry Martini (Slew Gin Fizz) in fourth, totaled
$6,100.40.

My Pal Charlie (Indian Charlie), Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), Star Guitar
(Quiet American), 2-1 favorite Honest Man (Unbridled’s Song), Wishful Tomcat
(Tactical Cat), Slew’s Tiznow (Tiznow) and Good and Lucky (Wild Rush) rounded
out the order of finish. Brothers Nicholas (Smart Strike), El Caballo (El
Corredor) and Golden Yank (Yankee Gentleman) were scratched.