Santa Anita: Mucho Macho Man finishes well in Breeders' Cup Classic drill

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mucho Macho Man continued his strong training for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 with a five-furlong move on a gorgeous Saturday morning at Santa Anita. It was his penultimate work for the Classic, and trainer Kathy Ritvo said he would have his final drill next weekend.

Under exercise rider Nick Petro, Ritvo’s nephew, Mucho Macho Man worked alone and went off easily before finishing strongly. Track clockers had him going five furlongs in 1:02.20 following splits of 26.20 seconds and 50.80. Track clockers also had him going out six furlongs in 1:15.

“He does as much as he needs to,” Ritvo said. “He finished well and galloped out well.”

Mucho Macho Man came out after the second of two morning renovation breaks and let much of the post-break traffic clear out before going about his business. In addition to Ritvo, jockey Gary Stevens, who will ride Mucho Macho Man in the Classic, observed the work.

Ritvo has been delighted with the consistent weather here, the main reason Mucho Macho Man was rerouted to last month’s Awesome Again Stakes after he was scratched out of the Woodward Stakes in August because of an off track at Saratoga.

“We wanted to run in the Woodward and then the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but we just couldn’t depend on the weather,” Ritvo said. “He doesn’t prefer an off track. I guess that’s a nice way of saying he hates it.”

Mucho Macho Man clearly loves Santa Anita, though. In addition to his win in the Awesome Again three weeks ago, he was second in last year’s Classic here to Fort Larned. They are among five horses from last year’s Classic scheduled to meet again in this year’s race.

Another Classic entrant, Moreno, also worked Saturday. He went five furlongs in 1:00.60 for trainer Eric Guillot. Moreno most recently was second in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.

Caracortado eyes Turf Sprint

For almost 18 months, Caracortado experienced one problem after another with a foot, issues that kept him off the track from January 2012 until last month.

In his comeback, Caracortado was fourth in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, a performance that left trainer Mike Machowsky confident enough to aim the 6-year-old for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 2.

On Saturday, Caracortado worked six furlongs in 1:12.20. The troubled foot has not been a concern. As a precaution, Caracortado trains in a bar shoe, which will be removed closer to race day, Machowsky said.

“It’s been a pleasant surprise the way the horse has come on,” Machowsky said. “Knock on wood, we’ve had no setbacks.”

A winner of 9 of 20 starts who has earned $870,105, Caracortado was fifth in the 2011 BC Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs. He won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course in January 2012 before the foot issues surfaced.

Gary Stevens will ride Caracortado in the BC Turf Sprint and is likely to work the gelding next week, Machowsky said.

Caracortado was beaten three-quarters of a length by Chips All In in the Eddie D. Machowsky is convinced that he can show further improvement Nov. 2.

“He probably needed the last race,” he said. “He kind of flattened out. He made an early move.”

Pletcher pair breezes

Authenticity and We Miss Artie, two of Todd Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup hopefuls, worked a half-mile in 47 seconds in company Saturday.

Authenticity, second in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares here Sept. 28, is a candidate for the $2 million BC Distaff on Nov. 1. We Miss Artie, the winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 5, is a candidate for the $2 million BC Juvenile on Nov. 2.

Authenticity has won two graded stakes this year, most recently the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga on July 20. She was aggressive in Saturday’s workout, according to Michael McCarthy, Pletcher’s assistant.

“She seems to get over this track well,” he said. “In company, she was a little more eager.”

Dance With Fate works

Dance With Fate, second in two Grade 1 races in Southern California in September, worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 on Saturday. He is bound for the BC Juvenile.

On Saturday, Dance With Fate was ridden by jockey Alex Bisono. Rafael Bejarano will have the mount in the BC Juvenile, trainer Peter Eurton said.

“Alex said he was looking around a bit,” Eurton said. “I didn’t work him in company. I didn’t want him to do too much.”

Dance With Fate was second in the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 4 and the FrontRunner Stakes on Sept. 28.

– additional reporting by Steve Andersen