Gulfstream Park notes: Mucho Macho Man stretches legs in workout

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Each long journey begins with one small step. And so it was for Mucho Macho Man, who took the first tiny step toward defending his Breeders’ Cup Classic championship next fall at Santa Anita by working an easy three furlongs in 37.64 seconds Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

With regular exercise rider Nick Petro Jr. aboard, Mucho Macho Man broke off at the three-eighths pole, completed his opening furlong in 12.44, and fanned five or six paths wide into the stretch before just cruising to the wire out near the middle of the track, galloping out a half-mile in 51.66.

“Just something easy to get him started and let him stretch his legs,” trainer Kathy Ritvo said. “I told Nicky to keep him well off the rail because I wanted to make sure he didn’t do too much.”

Ritvo announced this month that Mucho Macho Man will race again in 2014, with his primary goal a defense of his title in the Classic. She and stable manager Finn Green have not pinpointed a race for Mucho Macho Man’s next start, although both the Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 18 and the Grade 1 Donn Handicap three weeks later would be logical options. Ritvo also said she plans to breeze Mucho Macho Man on turf here later this month.

Ritvo said she hopes Mucho Macho Man’s victory in the Classic propels him to an Eclipse Award as champion older male for 2013.

“I know Wise Dan is probably the favorite, but our horse won the Classic and was the leading North American money earner this season, so I think he deserves to win the title as older male,” Ritvo said.

Mucho Macho Man banked $2,984,000 in 2013.

Castellano seeks three-peat

Two-time defending Gulfstream riding champion Javier Castellano got his 2013-14 meeting off to a fast start by posting a pair of victories Friday. Castellano, who leads the country this year in both victories and purse money earned, guided Logan Street to a popular win race 2 and returned to capture the sixth race with One Golden Road. Both races were on turf.

“For me, this was opening day since it was my first day here,” Castellano said. “I’ve had a wonderful year, and I’m looking forward to trying to be leading rider here again.”

Castellano would become only the second rider in track history to win three consecutive riding titles outright if he successfully defends his crown this winter. Jorge Chavez won three consecutive championships here from 1998-2000. Jeff Fell shared the 1977 crown with Mickey Solomone before winning the titles outright in 1978 and 1979.

Through Friday, Castellano was looking up in the standings at Paco Lopez, who rode seven winners on opening weekend, then added another pair Friday astride Grand Jetsetter and Wire Funds.

◗ Russian-born jockey Dzhubei Avidzba won his first race in North America when guiding Daddy’s Kid to victory in Friday’s finale for trainer Ed Coletti. It was the second mount in this country for Avidzba, 29, who won his country’s prestigious Russian Derby three times.

◗ Miss Besilu, a $2.6 million purchase out of the Ned Evans dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November sale, took advantage of a ridiculously slow pace to win her maiden in Saturday’s first race. Miss Besilu, who had finished far back in her only previous start on dirt this fall at Belmont Park, is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and$4.4 million earner Saint Liam.

◗ Mucho Macho Man was among almost 200 horses to work here Saturday. Other prominent names included Nikki’s Sandcastle, the winner of the Claiming Crown Emerald last year, and Reveron. Nikki’s Sandcastle, who became a Grade 2 winner in the Fayette Stakes in his most recent start in October, breezed an easy half-mile in 49.02 for trainer Dave Kassen, while Reveron went six furlongs in 1:14.28.