Mucho Macho Man , fresh off his first grade I victory for trainer Kathy Ritvo, posted a half-mile workout Oct. 12 at Santa Anita Park, where he is expected to make a return start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
The 5-year-old son of Macho Uno was clocked in a handy :47 2/5 in his first drill since capturing Santa Anita's Sept. 28 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) by 4 1/4 lengths. It was the eighth swiftest move of 65 at the distance.
He worked in company with stablemate Skinny Peter, who was clocked in :48 flat.
"He went very well," trainer Kathy Ritvo said of Mucho Macho Man. "When he works in company, Skinny Peter is always his workmate."
Mucho Macho Man's drill was one of 177 on Santa Anita's work tab Saturday, which included several Breeders' Cup candidates.
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, the Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man is to make his next start in the BC Classic on Nov. 2. He was second in last year's Classic, half a length behind Fort Larned , who is also expected to return for this year's event, as are Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Ron the Greek and TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) victor Game On Dude.
Mucho Macho Man was joined on the work tab by Padua Stables' Authenticity, who posted a bullet half-mile move of :46 1/5 in preparation for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 6-year-old Quiet American mare has back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Sept. 28 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I), where she was defeated by Beholder, and the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course a month earlier, a race won by Royal Delta.
Meanwhile, Mizdirection, preparing to defend her title in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) on the hillside turf course, tested the lawn at six furlongs in 1:11 4/5, best of seven at the distance. Owned by Jim Rome's Jungle Racing and partners and trained by Mike Puype, the 5-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast has not raced since finishing fifth in the one-mile Just a a Game Stakes (gr. IT) June 8 at Belmont Park.
"All's good," Puype said. "We're moving forward."
Other Breeders' Cup candidates working Saturday at Santa Anita included 4-year-old filly Egg Drop, winner of the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar for trainer Mike Mitchell, who clocked five furlongs on turf in 1:00 3/5. She is being considered for the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) contender Vagabond Shoes, winner of the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) and runner-up in both the Eddie Read (gr. IT) and John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT), covered the same distance on the grass in 1:01 2/5 for John Sadler.
Eddie D. Stakes winner (gr. IIIT) Chips All In, who will likely be supplemented to the $1 million BC Turf Sprint (gr. IT), also drilled five furlongs on the turf in 1:01 3/5.
"It sounds like most of them (the colt’s ownership group) are in favor," trainer Jeff Mullins said. "They’ll lay their money down on the day (of pre-entry, Oct. 21). I guess we’re going."
Caracortado (Turf Sprint) went four furlongs in 48, breezing, for Mike Machowsky; and Moreno (Classic) went the same distance in 48 flat for Eric Guillot.
"Perfect" is how Machowsky termed the comebacking Caracortado's move. "We'll probably work six furlongs next week."