Gulfstream: Met Mile among possibilities for Mucho Macho Man

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kathy Ritvo said Mucho Macho Man came out of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap in good order but that plans for his next start remain up in the air.

Mucho Macho Man has served notice he will be a major player in the handicap division this season after his victories over Ron the Greek in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic and both Tackleberry and Jackson Bend in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap.

“He was ready to go back to the track the next morning but he’s such a big horse, I wanted to give him a little break so I’ll wait until Thursday or Friday before sending him out again,” said Ritvo. “I thought he ran a really good race in the Gulfstream Park Handicap and from his two wins here this winter I think he’s shown he’s stronger and more mature than as a 3-year-old and finally understands how to win.”

Ritvo said she and Finn Green, racing manager for Mucho Macho Man’s majority owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, put together a plan for their horse last fall that leaned towards the conservative side for the early part of this season.

“We wanted to protect the horse and not rush him into anything too serious like the Donn Handicap early in the year,” said Ritvo. “We had some races we’d been discussing for his next start but after winning Saturday at a one-turn mile it brought another option onto the table for us, which is the Met Mile.”

Green said other alternatives for Mucho Macho Man’s next start include both the Alysheba and Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs or the Suburban at Belmont Park.