Lousiana Derby-bound Mucho Macho Man breezed four furlongs in :48.50 at Gulfstream Park March 5.
Dean Reeves and partners' 3-year-old son of Macho Uno drilled in preparation for his March 26 date ove nine furlongs at Fair Ground with exercise rider Mike Heera aboard. It was the eighth fastest clocking of 32 recorded at the distance.
“He went great. It was just what we wanted,” said trainer Kathy Ritvo, who was particularly pleased with the manner in which Mucho Macho Man finished during the work. “He’s been great, super, just like his old self. He’s come out of his race very well,”
Mucho Macho Man, who concluded his 2010 campaign with a pair of runner-up finishes behind To Honor and Serve at 1 1/8 miles in the Nashua (gr. II) and Remsen (gr. II), began his 3-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Holy Bull (gr. III) at Gulfstream Jan. 30.
The Florida-bred colt rebounded impressively with a 1 1/2-length triumph in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. He negotiated the two turns and 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43 4/5.
“I think the distance (of the Louisiana Derby) will be good for him. I think he likes the track and definitely the two turns,” said Ritvo.
She plans to work her colt two more times before shipping to Fair Grounds in the middle of Louisiana Derby week.
“He’s definitely more mature than he was when we were back in New York.”
Mucho Macho Man will be ridden again by Rajiv Maragh, who was a last-minute replacement in the Risen Star for injured rider Eibar Coa
Mucho Macho Man was joined on the Gulfstream work tab by Rogue Romance, who is also scheduled to run in the Louisiana Derby.
The Ken McPeek-trained colt, who closed to finish third behind the Ritvo trainee in the Risen Star, breezed four furlongs in :48.60.