Strike Hard to Come Out Swinging in Mucho Macho Man

For Miracle's International Trading's Strike Hard  and Matthew Williams, the trainer for his family's stable, the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1 could prove to be a milestone race.

Both Strike Hard, a gray or roan son of Flashback , and Williams, a 25-year-old native of Kingston, Jamaica, are chasing the first stakes victory of their young careers. Williams has started 143 horses since November 2018 with 13 wins, while Strike Hard has raced five times with two wins, one second, and one third.

"Going into the Mucho Macho Man, I have a lot of confidence. I definitely think he's up to the challenge and the level, especially based on his last performance," Williams said. "This race will help us decide what's next."

The 11th running of the one-mile Mucho Macho Man, the first step on Gulfstream's 3-year-old stakes leading to the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby (G1), headlines five stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds worth a total of $550,000 in purses on the New Year's Day holiday program. Unlike three other 3-year-old dirt stakes races across the country Saturday, it is not a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Strike Hard enters the Mucho Macho Man off a popular four-length optional claiming allowance triumph Dec. 5 at Gulfstream, with Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemates A. P.'s Secret  and Skippylongstocking  a nose apart in second and third, respectively. Strike Hard pulled away late despite not switching leads.

"I thought he ran a very good race," Williams said. "They regarded A. P.'s Secret pretty well and he beat him by four lengths, and he did it in good time, too."

In the Sept. 18 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, Strike Hard ran seventh, beaten 6 3/4 lengths, in his only previous stakes attempt. Williams views that as a toss-out race, owing to shipping late into Kentucky.

Junior Alvarado is named to ride from post 2 in a field of six that race over one turn.

Also likely to command betting support is OXO Equine's Graphic Detail , a first-out maiden winner by a half-length when sprinting six furlongs Nov. 4 at Belmont Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The son of Practical Joke   was a $320,000 purchase by her owner from the 2020 January Horses of All Ages Sale at Keeneland from the Brookdale Sales consignment.

Leading rider Luis Saez has the mount from the outside post.

The Championship Meet's leading trainer with 17 wins since Dec. 3, Joseph is keeping the likes of Remington Springboard Mile winner Make It Big , Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) show finisher White Abarrio , and A. P.'s Secret on the bench for the Mucho Macho Man, but he will be represented by Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking.

Joseph is seeking his second Mucho Macho Man victory in three years following Chance It   in 2020, who would go on to be grade 1-placed. Skippylongstocking may have a change of equipment following his loss to Strike Hard last time out.

"He ran a decent race last time," Joseph said. "We're going to try some blinkers on him this time, so hopefully it will help him jump forward. The horse that beat him last time beat him pretty convincingly ... so he has to improve."

Tyler Gaffalione, who also rode Chance It in the Mucho Macho Man, gets the return call from post 5.

Mr Rum Runner , Simplication, Sport Pepper  complete the field.