Mucho Gusto Returns From 10-Month Layoff in San Antonio

Mucho Gusto has only raced twice in 2020 but it's been a highly productive campaign.

By winning the $2.9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) and finishing fourth in the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup, Mucho Gusto has bankrolled in excess of $3.1 million for owner Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and trainer Bob Baffert.

There could also be a few more dollars tacked on to that figure Dec. 26 when the 4-year-old will return from a 10-month layoff by running in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, which figures to serve as a springboard to the rich stakes awaiting older horses in the first few months of 2021.

"I was debating running him in the Pegasus," Baffert said. "The owner wants him ready for the Saudi Cup so we'll give him a race now and take it from there."

Prince Faisal bought the son of Mucho Macho Man  from original owner Michael Lund Petersen in the fall of 2019 with the expressed purpose of running in both the 2020 Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), races worth a combined $32 million.

To that end, Baffert, who was retained as Mucho Gusto's trainer after the sale, used the Pegasus as a prep for the Saudi Cup and was rewarded with a decisive 4 1/2-length victory that provided the winning connections with a payday of more than $1.6 million. 

Video: Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1)

Following a fourth in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup that was worth $1.5 million, Mucho Gusto returned to the United States after the cancellation of the Dubai World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the colt arrived back home in California, Baffert had a tired horse in need of a rest.

"I think the Saudi trip was hard on those horses. A lot weren't the same after it," Baffert said. "So, I gave him four months off."

Since he returned to training, Mucho Gusto has turned in some quick works in preparation for Saturday's 1 1/16-mile test against seven rivals.

"He looks healthy and great. He'll need the race. He's not in peak form," Baffert said, "but this should tighten him up."

Baffert would not bite on whether a return trip to the Pegasus is on the table for a colt bought for $625,000 by Petersen from the Kirkwood Stables consignment at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

"We're taking it one race at a time," he said. "I want to see how he runs and if he needs another one or not before the Saudi Cup. I won't rule anything out. One thing I've learned in this business is don't cross that bridge until you have to."

Even if Mucho Gusto does not travel to Florida, the San Antonio has the potential to produce a Pegasus starter with a field that also includes Jay Em Ess Stable's Extra Hope, a homebred Shanghai Bobby 4-year-old trained by Richard Mandella who won the Nov. 21 Native Diver Stakes (G3); Sharp Samurai, a troubled third in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and second in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1); and Native Diver runner-up Midcourt, who is multiple grade 1-placed.

Entries: San Antonio S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 26, 2020, Race 7

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:09 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Take the One O One (CA)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	121	Brian J. Koriner	15/1
2	2Kiss Today Goodbye (KY)	Mike E. Smith	119	J. Eric Kruljac	15/1
3	3Extra Hope (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	123	Richard E. Mandella	5/1
4	4Sharp Samurai (KY)	Flavien Prat	121	Mark Glatt	5/2
5	5Combatant (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	123	John W. Sadler	12/1
6	6Midcourt (KY)	Victor Espinoza	123	John A. Shirreffs	5/1
7	7Idol (KY)	Gabriel Saez	119	Richard Baltas	5/1
8	8Mucho Gusto (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Bob Baffert	2/1