Breeders' Cup Classic: Mucho Macho Man blazes five furlongs in Saratoga work

Mucho Macho Man may be out of sight, but he put in a workout Saturday morning at Saratoga that should put him back in the minds of handicapper’s looking ahead to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Mucho Macho Man, working in company with 4-year-old Skinny Peter, went five furlongs in 57.79 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, according to track clockers. Known as a deep surface, the Oklahoma training track rarely yields such fast workout times.

Mucho Macho Man, ridden in the work by Nick Petro, started five lengths behind the 4-year-old claimer Skinny Peter and went his first three furlongs in 34.77 seconds. He got his last quarter in 23.02 seconds while finishing on even terms with his workmate. Mucho Macho Man galloped out six furlongs in 1:10.98.

The track was listed as muddy. Trainer Kathy Ritvo called it “a little heavy.”

Ritvo said she was looking for a solid work from Mucho Macho Man on Saturday since he will be going into the Classic off a nine-week layoff. In his most recent race, Mucho Macho Man finished second behind To Honor and Serve in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 1.

“We want to make sure he’s strong going into the race,” Ritvo said from Saratoga. “He’s shown that he’s never trained better. I’m excited.”

Ritvo said she hasn’t decided how much longer she is going to keep Mucho Macho Man in Saratoga. She said it is possible she could move him to Belmont in the coming weeks to continue his preparation.

Mucho Macho Man is not scheduled to ship to Southern California until Oct. 30.