Simplification rebounds from loss with powerful victory in Mucho Macho Man
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Simplification made amends and then some for his third as the 1-5 favorite in his 2-year-old finale, kicking off his 3-year-old season with a convincing four-length victory over 4-5 favorite Strike Hard in Saturday’s $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park. The one-mile Mucho Macho Man was the richest of five stakes on the card, all for 3-year-olds.
Simplification gained national attention when he earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure winning his maiden against Florida-breds by 16 3/4 lengths here on Oct. 23. But the son of Not This Time regressed when wheeling back in just three weeks, disputing the early pace before finishing a third in a six-furlong entry-level allowance race while earning a Beyer 39 points lower than in his previous start.
Simplification waited seven weeks to make his next start – not missing a beat in the mornings - while stretching to a mile for the first time in the Mucho Macho Man. Taking command a furlong into the race, Simplification rated kindly under jockey Javier Castellano, shook off Skippylongstocking leaving the final turn, quickly opened a comfortable advantage, and remained well clear while kept under vigorous urging to the end.
Strike Hard briefly prompted the pace before settling near the rear of the six-horse field, commenced his bid near the inside turning for home, but was unable to threaten the winner. Strike Hard did finish on the correct lead, something he had not done in previous outings.
Mr Rum Runner was 7 1/4 lengths farther back in third. He was followed in turn by New York invader Graphic Detail, Sport Pepper, and Skippylongstocking.
Simplification, a son of Not This Time trained by Antonio Sano for owner Tami Bobo, ran a mile in 1:35.04 over a fast track and paid $10.40.
“I told everyone, these are good horses, but I thought the more distance would be better for my horse,” Sano said. “When the horse ran six furlongs for the first time, he won easy, but that was a maiden special weight. We had the option to sell the horse, but he was not sold. I told the owner, we’ll enter January 1st for one mile. Castellano worked the horse. He’s a very good horse, a special horse.”
In the other stakes on the card, each worth $100,000:
* Kathleen O. stamped herself a leading candidate for the lucrative 3-year-old filly stakes later in the meet by drawing away to an 8 1/2-length victory over the pace-setting Mi Negrita in the Cash Run.
Kathleen O. rallied from near the rear of the field and drew off with complete authority through the final furlong of the one-mile Cash Run. She used a similar modus operandi to capture her debut going seven furlongs over a muddy strip on Nov. 12 at Aqueduct.
Kathleen O., a daughter of Upstart, is trained by Shug McGaughey for Winngate Stables LLC. She was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano. She returned $6 after completing the distance in 1:35.97 over a fast track.
Fast and Flirty, the 9-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, finished another three-quarters of a length farther back in third after prompting the pace for five furlongs.
“I think we’ve got a lot to look forward to,” McGaughey said. “I’m very pleased with the way she’s come along, the way she ran today, and her maturity level.”
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* Alittleloveandluck overtook Ocean Safari in late stretch to register a half-length victory over her in the Ginger Brew for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. Opalina, the even-money favorite, flattened out late and finished another 1 ¾ lengths farther back in third.
The win was the second in a row for Alittleloveandluck, who won her maiden over the Tapeta course in similarly game fashion in her 2-year-old finale.
A daughter of Arrogate, Alittleloveandluck is owned and trained by Mike Dini. She returned $17.80. The final running time of the one-mile Ginger Brew was adjusted to 1:36.68 shortly after the race.
Dini said he was talked into running Alittleloveandluck into the Ginger Brew by the racing office when he was assured the race would come up a short field. The Ginger Brew went postward with seven starters.
* Lightning Larry led at every call and withstood a final bid from 3-2 favorite Of a Revolution to register a mild upset in the Limehouse for 3-year-olds going six furlongs. O Capitan finished another eight lengths farther back in third. Summery pulled up on the backstretch and was vanned off.
Lightning Larry, who finished second in stakes in his final two starts at 2, was ridden to victory by Romero Maragh for trainer Jeff Engler. Owned by Lea Farms LLC, Lightning Larry, a son of Uncaptured, covered six furlongs in a lively 1:09.40 and paid $8.60.
“He was just sitting on him, so I felt pretty good turning for home because he hadn’t asked him at all,” said Engler. “When he did ask him, he responded. This horse just keeps getting better. I didn’t expect to be in front, honestly, but we broke so sharp and he got out there comfortable and just kicked on.”
* Grand Sonata ran down stablemate Chanceux in the final strides to post a neck victory while leading a one-two finish for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Dania Beach Stakes for 3-year-olds going a mile on turf. Father Glado rallied from last to finish third.
Grand Sonata, victimized by a very eventful trip closing out his 2-year-old campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct, won for the second time in four starts. The Whisper Hill Farm homebred, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, was guided to victory by Tyler Gaffalione. He paid $4.60.
The final time of the Dania Beach, run over firm turf, was adjusted to 1:37.05.