Gulfstream Park: Mucho Macho Man headed to Sunshine Millions

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kathy Ritvo made it official early Friday afternoon when she confirmed that Gulfstream Park’s Sunshine Millions Classic will be the starting point for Mucho Macho Man’s 2014 campaign. The Sunshine Millions Classic will be decided at 1 1/8 miles as the marquee event on the $1.3 million Sunshine Millions card Jan. 18.

Mucho Macho Man, who has not started since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the top older male of 2013. The Eclipse ceremonies will be held at Gulfstream several hours after the Sunshine Classic.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Mucho Macho Man has been working steadily at Gulfstream for his 2014 bow. He turned in the best of a series of works over the past month last Saturday when he went a sharp half-mile in 47.76 seconds here.

“The timing of the Sunshine Millions is perfect because it gives us a springboard to the several options we’re looking at for his next start, either in February or March,” Ritvo said. “It also gives us insurance, extra time, in case we were to get rained out.”

Mucho Macho Man ran the only poor race of his career over a sloppy track when he was eased as the odds-on favorite in the 2013 Sunshine Millions and will not run next Saturday if the track comes up wet.

“He’s training extremely well, and at the moment we’re looking at several different routes to get him to our main goal this year, which is to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” Ritvo said.

Among the races under consideration this year is a trip to the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Ritvo made her announcement Friday in conjunction with Finn Green, stable agent for Mucho Macho Man’s owners, Dean and Patti Reeves.