Breeders' Cup Classic: Mucho Macho Man's trainer Ritvo expresses gratitude
ARCADIA, Calif. – The morning after reaching the pinnacle of her racing career, trainer Kathy Ritvo was both excited and contemplative over what she and her horse, Mucho Macho Man, had accomplished in winning the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita.
“It’s hard to beat today, or yesterday,” Ritvo said Sunday morning as she stood near her prized horse.
It’s also, she said, hard to beat what has happened to her in the six years since she underwent heart transplant surgery.
“Having a heart transplant and getting a second chance, I owe it to selfless people who donated a love one’s organs,” she said. “It’s hard to come up with the words.
“I’m blessed to have everything I have – to train a horse like this, to have a second chance at life. I’m grateful every day I’m here.”
Ritvo said she had never met the family responsible for her donated heart, but said she “would love to.”
Ritvo became the first female trainer to win the Classic, and said she took satisfaction in her personal achievement of winning the race, and of seeing Mucho Macho Man prevail.
“Everything went perfect here,” Ritvo said. “That feels really good, to know if you do the right thing, everything will pay off.”
Mucho Macho Man had won the Awesome Again over this track on Sept. 28.
“I’m happy for the horse, for what he’s accomplished,” Ritvo said. “That’s why I wanted it, for him. He’s a great horse.
“He’s won from 2 to 5, which is hard to do, and he still looks like this,” she said, looking in admiration at Mucho Macho Man. “He got off to a slow start this year, but it was an amazing ending.”
Mucho Macho Man was eased in his first start of the year, the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream on Jan. 19. He did not race again until June. He won twice in five starts this year.
Ritvo said there had been no determination if this was the end of Mucho Macho Man’s racing career. She said those discussions would take place in upcoming months with the majority owner, Dean Reeves, and racing manager Finn Green.
“It’s a group effort – the horse, the exercise rider, the groom, the owners, the racing manager - everyone. It’s been fantastic,” she said.
Mucho Macho Man is scheduled to leave California for Florida on Tuesday.
Racing plans also are uncertain with the 3-year-old Will Take Charge, who came up a nose short of catching Mucho Macho Man. D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Will Take Charge for Willis Horton, said there had been “a lot of interest” in Will Take Charge from several farms in Kentucky. Lukas said he envisioned three scenarios occurring in upcoming weeks.
“Either a farm buys him and stands him at stud, a farm buys him but still races him next year, or Willis holds on to him and runs him as a 4-year-old,” Lukas said Sunday.
“Both Willis and I feel he’s going to be a better 4-year-old than 3-year-old,” Lukas said. “He’s really coming into himself.”
Lukas said he thought Will Take Charge could have won the Classic “if he hadn’t been carried wide on both turns.”
“He was especially fanned out into the lane” by Palace Malice, Lukas said. “If that doesn’t happen, I think he wins. But that’s racing.”
Lukas said he believed Will Take Charge had established himself as the leading contender for champion 3-year-old male. His biggest win was in the Travers, and “he got beat an inch against older horses in the Classic,” Lukas said.
Lukas said there was a chance Will Take Charge could race in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs at the end of the month.
Game On Dude, ninth as the favorite in the Classic under jockey Mike Smith, was fine Sunday morning, trainer Bob Baffert reported.
“He came back and cooled out quick. It wasn’t like he was tired,” Baffert said. “Mike took care of him. He wrapped up on him in the stretch.
“We have a one-dimensional horse with a target on his back. They weren’t going to give him any free ride.”
Game On Dude is a gelding, and Baffert said that provided he remains healthy, he would race again next year.
- additional reporting by David Grening