Mutasaabeq Struts His Stuff in Mucho Macho Man
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Mutasaabeq (inside) wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq may be a grade 2 winner on turf, but when he arrived at Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs barn for a winter campaign, the seven-time Eclipse Award winning-trainer could not help but reflect on the son of Into Mischief 's first of four races at 2.
It was a sparkling 4 1/2-length victory in a Saratoga Race Course maiden race that served as a stepping stone to the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1), where he was third, 12 1/2 lengths behind runaway winner Jackie's Warrior.
That led to a switch to turf for a win in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) followed by a tough, wide trip in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1) that closed out his 2-year-old campaign and opened the door for a return to the main track.
"He was so impressive breaking his maiden and then got run off his feet a bit in the Hopeful," Pletcher said. "The main thing was that when he got (to Florida) we wanted to see how he would train on dirt. When he trained sharply we thought at this time of year, with so many opportunities on dirt for 3-year-olds, we'd give it a try on dirt—and I'm glad we did."
After Mutasaabeq broke slowly in his two turf starts, a return to dirt in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2 brought back all of his finesse and speed. The bay colt pressed pace-setting Awesome Gerry before jockey Luis Saez guided him to the front leaving the quarter pole, and the duo registered a 1 1/2-length victory over Papetu in the mile test for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
"He broke alertly, which we wanted to see. Luis was able to put him exactly where we hoped prior to the race and then he turned up the pressure on the turn and kept finding more. It was a big effort," Pletcher said. "He had been training like he was ready to go and we were excited about getting him back on dirt. (The Mucho Macho Man) seemed like a logical starting point, so we were happy to see him do what he did."
Pletcher said plans for Mutasaabeq have not been finalized but he listed the two-turn Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 30 as the "natural progression on the calendar."
"I would think the way he broke today and (given) the natural speed he has, a two-turn race at Gulfstream would benefit him," he said.
The first foal out of the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, Mutasaabeq was bred by BlackRidge Stables and purchased for $425,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2018 Keeneland November Mixed Breeding Stock Sale.
The 6-5 favorite ($4.20) was timed in 1:35.98 on a fast track.
Magic Stables' Papetu, a son of Dialed In trained by Antonio Sano, was second by 1 1/4 lengths over John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch's Awesome Gerry, a Liam's Map colt trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.