Mucho Gusto works six furlongs for San Antonio Stakes

Mucho Gusto, unraced since a fourth-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, is likely to start in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

“Right now that’s the race we’re looking at,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Friday at Santa Anita, Mucho Gusto worked six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“Mucho Gusto worked well,” Baffert said. “He’s getting close. I wanted to see how he worked and how he came out of it.”

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

The $200,000 San Antonio Stakes could serve as a prep for the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23. Mucho Gusto won the 2020 Pegasus World Cup, which has a $3 million purse and is run at 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, the 4-year-old Mucho Gusto has won 6 of 12 starts.

The Baffert-trained Fighting Mad worked a half-mile in 47 seconds on Friday for a wintertime comeback. Fighting Mad was rested after a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. Friday’s workout was her second in recent weeks.

“I freshened her up after her last race,” Baffert said. “I’m just starting to pick it up with her.”

Owned by Gary and Mary West, Fighting Mad has won 5 of 9 starts and earned $468,008. She won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in August.

Independence Hall, a two-time stakes winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita on Friday for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs there on Dec. 26. Independence Hall is trained by Michael McCarthy and won his debut for the stable in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 8.