Mucho Gusto takes on sharp rivals in Bob Hope Stakes

The impressive debut winner Mucho Gusto is the only undefeated starter in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar, but one could argue, figuratively, his main rivals also are unbeaten.

After all, Sparky Ville is 1 for 1 as a gelding, and Extra Hope is 1 for 1 with blinkers.

Those three juveniles will enter the seven-furlong Bob Hope off sharp victories, facing Savagery, Owning, and Sueno. Metropol will scratch after coming down with a fever.

Mucho Gusto is the least experienced in the field, but his four-length debut victory is enough to make him the 5-2 favorite.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Mucho Gusto got sick after his Sept 20 debut.

“He lost some time, but now he’s back,” Baffert said.

The colt has worked exceptionally well, and his lack of seasoning is not an issue. Seven of the last 15 winners of the stakes were second-time starters.

The challenge for Mucho Gusto is rivals in peak form, including Sparky Ville, whose career was going nowhere before he was gelded.

“He’s a well-bred colt, we were not looking to do that,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “But when a horse is going in reverse you’ve got to do something.”

Bonde said Sparky Ville previously was “rank and using himself up before the race.” After he was gelded, he “started working more professionally, he started paying more attention.”

In his first start as a gelding Sparky Ville scored a decisive victory in the Sunny Slope Stakes on Oct. 21 at Santa Anita.

In a maiden race one hour prior to the Sunny Slope, Extra Hope made the fourth start of his career and first with blinkers. All he did was win by more than eight lengths. Maybe it was the blinkers, or maybe he is simply figuring things out.

“It was either that [blinkers], or maybe he’s growing up, but he did run better,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sparky Ville, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 83-61-70

◗ Although the Bob Hope is a prep for the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8, Sparky Ville might not be in the field. Bonde and owner Del Secco DCS Racing are considering King of Speed for the Futurity.

◗ Gary Stevens rides Sparky Ville, who has won 2 of 5.

Mucho Gusto, by Mucho Macho Man
Beyer: 80

◗ His maiden victory was flattered when runner-up Vantastic returned to win a maiden race on turf.

◗ Joe Talamo rides Mucho Gusto. Talamo and Baffert are 16 for 64 (25 percent) the past year.

Extra Hope, by Shanghai Bobby
Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-63

◗ Mandella said it was jockey Drayden Van Dyke’s idea to add blinkers. Flavien Prat rides him Saturday. Van Dyke would have ridden Metropol.

◗ Extra Hope won a route last time, will sprint Saturday, and then stretch back to two turns for the Futurity.

“The horse is feeling so good, I just don’t want to keep [working] him,” Mandella said.

◗ The colt is the first runner produced by Lotsandlotsofhope, who finished second in her only start exactly six years ago on Nov. 17, 2012, at Hollywood Park.

– additional reporting by Jay Privman