Florida-based Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man stepped off a Bob
Hubbard Horse Transportation Van in Santa Anita’s stable area at 5:15 p.m. (PST)
on Sunday, in advance of a highly anticipated rematch with Classic runner-up
Will Take Charge and Game On Dude in the 77th running of the $750,000 Santa
Anita Handicap on March 8.
In one of the most thrilling stretch runs in Breeders’ Cup history, the Kathy
Ritvo-trained Mucho Macho Man, with Gary Stevens up, prevailed by a scant nose
over the fast finishing Will Take Charge and Luis Saez. Trained by D. Wayne
Lukas, Will Take Charge went on to be voted the nation’s champion three-year-old
male for 2013.
In addition to last year’s Classic, Mucho Macho Man was an emphatic 4
1/4-length winner of Santa Anita’s Awesome Again on September 28, and he was
second, beaten a half-length, in the 2012 Classic at Santa Anita.
In his only start since the Classic win, Mucho Macho Man demolished a group
of Florida-breds by 14 lengths in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream
Park on January 18.
The six-year-old horse by Macho Uno, who is owned by Dean and Patti Reeves,
and Adena Springs, worked five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 Saturday at Gulfstream and
will have one local breeze in advance of the Big ‘Cap, according to Ritvo.
Managed by Reeves Racing’s Finn Green, Mucho Macho Man is in search of his
fourth consecutive win and his 10th overall in what will be his 25th career
start.
“Kathy (Ritvo) has done an unbelievable job with this horse and I want to
thank her entire team, Dean, Patti and Finn, for allowing me to ride this horse
and for bringing him here for what could be one of the greatest Big ‘Caps of all
time,” said Stevens, who is a four-time Big ‘Cap winner. “It’s truly an honor to
be involved in it.”
Following his loss in the Classic, Will Take Charge defeated two-time Big
‘Cap winner Game On Dude by a head in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on
November 29, and Will Take Charge followed that with a second-place finish as
the 3-2 favorite in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on February 9.
“To have horses of the magnitude of Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and
Game On Dude involved in the Big ‘Cap this year is extraordinary,” said Tom Ludt,
Senior Vice President, Racing & Gaming, Stronach Group. “The last time we had a
rematch of this magnitude was in the 1988 Big ‘Cap, when Ferdinand and Alysheba
got together. When you consider that Game On Dude could be going for a
record-breaking third win in the race — it’s just unbelievable. We want to
thank all of those who have committed to running and those who are considering
it. It’s going to be a terrific day.”
First post on Santa Anita Handicap Day will be at noon. Admission gates will
open at 10 a.m.
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