High-priced juvenile Mucho Gusto debuts

CYPRESS, Calif. – The 2-year-old Mucho Gusto sold for $625,000 at May’s Fasig-Tipton Midtlantic 2-year-olds in training sale in Maryland. On Thursday at Los Alamitos, Mucho Gusto will have his career debut in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs.

Mucho Gusto, who is by Mucho Macho Man, is trained by Bob Baffert and will be ridden by Joe Talamo, who has been working the colt. Mucho Gusto will start from the rail in a field of seven.

“I think the farther the better,” Talamo said. “He’s got a real fluid stride. If we can break and get outside, that’s a good plan on this track.”

The race has six first-time starters, including the well-bred Weekly Call and Haydens Havoc. Haydens Havoc, by Jimmy Creed, was purchased for $85,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale.

“He trains like a nice 2-year-old,” trainer Peter Miller said.

Weekly Call, by Will Take Charge, is out of Summer Soiree, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in 2011. Weekly Call was purchased for $350,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November breeding stock sale and is owned by Zedan Racing Stable and trained by Doug O’Neill.