FT. LAUDERDALE S. (gr. II ), Gulfstream Park , January 12, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $150,000 , 4 yo's & up , 1 1/16 miles , 1:40.39 Turf FM .

It’s a rare scenario when the first horse one campaigns turns out to be a graded stakes winner, but such was the case with Signal Hill Farms’ Mucho Mas Macho, who immediately launched himself into the upper echelons of racing when he pulled off a 41-1 shocker in the Jan. 12 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Mucho Mas Macho became the first black-type victor for Daniel Donoghue, who races under Signal Hill Farms, as well as trainer Henry Collazo, who bought the 4-year-old gelding on Donoghue’s behalf for just $19,000 at the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March 2-year-old sale from Secure Investments, agent.

Although Donoghue had given Collazo $40,000 to spend at the sale, the trainer was still the most impressed with the lesser-priced Mucho Mas Macho, by Macho Uno, who had sold for $10,000 as a yearling.

“I liked the pedigree number one—that’s my first criteria,” said Collazo. “After that I lay my hands on the horse, watch him come into the ring, go up to him, and look into his eyes.

“(Mucho Mas Macho) has no blemish as far as conformation. The only downside about him was his size…for a Kentucky-bred, he was a small horse, but he was all heart.”

Mucho Mas Macho, who recorded his first black-type score in the Needles Stakes at Calder in September, has won five times and finished second four times in 20 starts, for earnings of $227,951.

A Chicago-area resident, Donoghue is co-founder and managing partner of the money management business Discovery Group.

“(Mucho Mas Macho’s win) is really amazing; it’s a dream come true,” said Donoghue, who has one other horse in training with Collazo. “I’ve always been a fan of racing since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until recently that I had the wherewithal to own one.”

Bred by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Mucho Mas Macho is out of the stakes-winning Star de Naskra mare A. P. Andie, whose second dam is German champion Istria (by Silly Season).

Also the dam of stakes-placed runner Star Zapper (by Ghostzapper), A. P. Andie is now owned by Jim and Pam Robinson’s Paris, Ky.-based Brandywine Farm. She is not currently in foal, but is booked to Stay Thirsty for 2014.

Macho Uno, the sire of 20 stakes winners, will stand the 2013 season for $20,000 at Adena Springs.—E.M.