Mutasaabeq right at home on dirt, takes Mucho Macho Man

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The decision to put Mutasaabeq back on the dirt for the first time since his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Hopeful paid big dividends when the versatile 3-year-old rallied from just off a fast pace to a popular 1 1/2-length victory over the 20-1 Papetu in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

The Mucho Macho Man, the first of three local preps on the road to the Grade 1 Florida Derby, was the fifth and final stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds on Saturday’s 11-race card.

Mutasaabeq completed a natural hat trick for his trainer Todd Pletcher, who also sent out the winners of the two previous races including the $75,000 Ginger Brew with Con Lima.

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Mutasaabeq, a son of Into Mischief, won the Grade 2 Bourbon and finished a non-threatening 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf following his distant third-place finish behind Jackie’s Warrior in the Hopeful. He was an impressive and easy winner of his career debut on dirt earlier this summer at Saratoga.

With regular rider Luis Saez aboard, Mutasaabeq broke well and stalked the pace of Awesome Gerry, who posted strong early splits of 23.70 seconds and 46.15 for the opening half. Saez roused Mutasaabeq sharply on the turn and initially it appeared the even-money favorite was not responding. But Mutasaabeq fought on, sticking his head in front turning for home, edging clear, then maintaining a safe advantage over Papetu.

Like Mutasaabeq, Papetu also competed in the 2020 Hopeful, easing to the wire 35 lengths behind the winner, after which he was sent to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Racing forwardly placed throughout, Papetu rallied three wide into the stretch and despite the four-month hiatus, held in gamely to be second-best, finishing 1 1/4 lengths clear of the tiring Awesome Gerry.

Pickin’ Time, winner of the Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct, was slammed between horses after the start, ultimately finishing a well-beaten fourth.

Owned by Shadwell Stable, Mutasaabeq paid $4.20 after completing a mile over a fast track in 1:35.96.

“He ran so well in his turf debut, although the Breeders’ Cup wasn’t what we’d hoped it would be,” Pletcher said. “The horse came back down here, was training really well (on dirt) and I talked to Rick Nichols at Shadwell about trying him on the dirt again and he said that would be great. So we’ve sort of been targeting this, and I’m glad he responded with a big effort.”

Pletcher was asked if he was concerned when Saez first set Mutasaabeq down on the turn and the favorite did not initially appear to be making any headway on the leader.

“For a second, but I asked Luis and he said if you stop riding he’ll get to idling a bit,” Pletcher said. “But once he asked him he responded. And they ran 1:09 and change, so they were running around the turn pretty well.”

Pletcher said he and the owners will come up with a plan for down the road, acknowledging they would look to give Mutasaabeq another start on the dirt, with the Grade 3 Holy Bull the next major race for 3-year-olds on the calendar here on January 30.

Drain the Clock wins Limehouse

Drain the Clock rebounded from his ill-fated trip to Delta Downs for his 2-year-old finale by launching his 3-year-old campaign with a resounding 7 1/2-length victory over Tiger in the $75,000 Limehouse Stakes.

Drain the Clock shipped to Delta Downs for the Jean Lafitte Stakes on Nov. 30 having been perfect in two starts - only to lose his rider after the opening quarter-mile due to a broken stirrup. He trained forwardly upon returning to his Gulfstream Park base and was re-united with jockey Edgard Zayas, who guided the son of Maclean’s Music to an easy win in the six-furlong Limehouse.

Drain the Clock broke to the lead but was eased back off the early speed of Warrior’s Pride, stalking that one for nearly five furlongs before sticking his head in front at the quarter pole, after which he readily extended his advantage without ever being seriously menaced down the stretch. Tiger raced forwardly placed throughout and was second-best, finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of Kentucky invader Runway Magic.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Drain the Clock completed six furlongs in a lively 1:10.11 and paid $5.80.

“He’s always been highly thought of, but he really impressed me today,” Joseph said. “Last time was a bit of a mishap, but we got him back home and he showed up today.”