Mask steps up to Mucho Macho Man Stakes off sparkling debut

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown said that even he was impressed with the way his promising 3-year-old Mask won his career debut, drawing away by 3 1/2 lengths over the highly regarded Navistar last fall at Belmont Park. Brown was so impressed, in fact, that he plans to have Mask step up to stakes company for his second start, in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes here Saturday.

The one-mile Mucho Macho Man drew a field of eight, including two other undefeated and well-regarded youngsters, Dak Attack and Santiamen, as well as two-time stakes winner Bal Harbour. The race is one of five stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday’s card.

Mask, a son of Tapit owned by Lane’s End Racing, earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure after overcoming a bit of an eventful start and working his way through traffic to win his debut under Javier Castellano.

“I wasn’t surprised he won the first time,” Brown said. “He’d earmarked himself all summer as a talented horse. But I was impressed with the way he won, considering he got left at the gate and had to overcome a lot, splitting horses and such, along the way.”

Brown said some “little minor issues” came up after Mask’s debut that prevented a second start in 2017.

“He had a couple of baby things that he needed a little time to get over, but he never left my care, and he’s done really well since getting to south Florida and starting to train at Palm Meadows,” said Brown. “And I feel the horse has really moved forward since his first start.”

Brown said he’d have preferred not to have Mask make his second start in a stakes race.

“I’d prefer to bring him back in a first-level allowance, and there is one in the book going seven furlongs next week,” said Brown. “But I like the one-turn mile for him rather than another sprint, and the timing is right to run him in the Mucho Macho Man. There are some conditions under which I might scratch on Saturday – if I weren’t happy with his post-position draw or we got some inclement weather. I could still wait for the allowance race the following weekend if necessary. But as of [Wednesday], I intend to run him in the stakes.”

Javier Castellano will be aboard Mask. The rest of the field, with riders, is Coltandmississippi (Luis Saez), Forever Taken (Jesus Rios), Dak Attack (Robby Albarado), Bal Harbour (John Velazquez), Santiamen (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Handsome Franco (Juan Diaz), and Whereshetoldmetogo (Tyler Gaffalione).