He has competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown, been
on the board in 17 of 21 career races, won three Grade 2 stakes and nearly $2.5
million in purses, but Mucho Macho Man has yet to earn his first Grade 1
victory.
Trainer Kathy Ritvo would like to see it happen on
Saturday, when the five-year-old son of Macho Uno returns to Saratoga Race Course
in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward.
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Mucho Macho Man is
winless in three starts this year with two thirds, including the Whitney
Invitational Handicap on August 3.
“He ran a huge race in the Whitney off his time off and an
easy race back. This should be a good race for him,” Ritvo said. “I hope he
wins. He deserves to win a race like this.”
Third in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, Mucho Macho Man has
always impressed with his imposing size, standing more than 17 hands tall. He
closed his four-year-old season finishing second by a neck to To Honor and Serve in
last year’s Woodward, and second by a half-length to Fort Larned in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“He’s definitely matured,” Ritvo remarked. “I think he’s stopped growing,
finally. He’s a big, strong horse. He’s huge. He’s tall, and now he’s filled
out. I think he’ll run a very good race. He’s always consistent. He’s doing
well, and we’re looking forward to running him. It should be a good race.”
The absence of Fort Larned and Whitney winner Cross Traffic
figure to change the pace dynamic in the Woodward, but Ritvo doesn’t think it
should affect Mucho Macho Man, who will be ridden for the third straight time by
Hall of Famer Edgar Prado.
“I don’t think it’s going to change my horse’s plan. Not
that much affects him,” Ritvo explained. “I think it’s still a very tough race.
I’m just going to tell Edgar to ride his own race. He’s just going to have to
see where he breaks, and the horse will pretty much do anything he wants him to
do. We’re excited.”
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