12/29/2012 6:47PM

Gulfstream Park: Mucho Macho Man experiments with blinkers

By Mike Welsch
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Barbara D. Livingston
Mucho Macho Man worked in blinkers on Saturday for the Sunshine Millions Classic.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Mucho Macho Man was equipped with blinkers for the first time in quite a while when he worked four furlongs in 46.26 seconds here on Saturday. Mucho Macho Man, going in company with stablemate Skinny Peter, posted splits of 22.38 and 34.08 and was in hand finishing inside his partner before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.09.

“Sometimes he just doesn’t pay attention in the morning, so we decided to throw the blinkers on him today to help him focus a little better,” explained trainer Kathy Ritvo. “He ran in blinkers earlier in his career. I took them off before he won the Risen Star. I thought he worked great this morning and we’ll probably work him with blinkers against next week, although I haven’t decided whether I’ll put them back on for his next start.”

Mucho Macho Man is being pointed for a defense of his title in the Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 19.

Other workers of note at Gulfstream on Saturday included 3-year-old prospects Gulfport and Frac Daddy. Gulfport breezed five furlongs in 58.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.45. Frac Daddy went an easy three furlongs in company in 36.34. He galloped out a half-mile in 49.71 in his first trial since shipping to south Florida several weeks ago.

Trainer Dale Romans is eyeing next Saturday’s Grade 2 Jerome at Aqueduct for Gulfport’s 3-year-old debut.

jay 12 months ago
Love MMM. So much talent. Maybe at 5 he will finally put it all together. He has a good chance to be the best dirt horse in the world.
Billy Spathanas More than 1 year ago
Blinkers in the morning might be a good idea, but in the afternoon, I highly doubt they go bad on. I could be wrong but in this case with MMM, blinkers on , blinkers off, it wont matter. He is one nice horse...
Advance Plumbing More than 1 year ago
Poor Mike Smith whats he doin waitng for MMM to run, poor guy got footed out of S. Cal.
Advance Plumbing More than 1 year ago
The economy is down what r people doing becoming horse trainers, who r all these no name trainers in Florida, its just pathetic.
Flint King More than 1 year ago
U my friend are ignorant of horse racing,if u dont know who kathy ritvo is.advance plumber why embarrasse yourself by commenting.
Perl More than 1 year ago
Blinkers is a good move for this big talented dope. Maybe it will help keep him focused when the race is in its final furlong.
akhiym james More than 1 year ago
They should really start taking on more grade 1 races with this horse. He's one of the best handicap horses running and winning the sunshine millions will do nothing for this horse. I know it's a comeback race but at least comeback in a graded stakes.
Jim Pitura More than 1 year ago
Loved his run in BC Classic, nice to see he will stay in the game for another season.
Ronald Dodgen More than 1 year ago
I though he should have stomped To Honor and Serve this year and he didn't. When he's on the lead or laying 2nd he does his best running any further back he tends to run in spots. When he won the Sunshine Millions last year his 3rd & 4th quarters were run in 46.48 that's when i knew he was special. Keep the blinks on!!!
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
I know MMM is a sucessful horse, but he seems to have more run than he's giving. Only drawback is him running too hard and getting hurt. Always the catch 22 with blinkers. Honestly, he's not running bad so it's risky.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Are they getting impatient after all these months with him? Give him all he wants and he might be one that's still around when he's seven!!!