Simplification Coasts Clear in Mucho Macho Man
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Simplification wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Tami Bobo's Simplification had many questions to answer when he took his place in the starting gate for the Jan. 1 $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Was the Florida-bred up to the challenge of competing against open stakes company? Could the frontrunning speedster capable of sprinting six furlongs in 1:09 carry his speed up to a mile?
Simplification answered all of those questions with a resounding "yes" Saturday, rolling to an authoritative victory in the Mucho Macho Man.
“I told everyone these are good horses, but I thought the more distance would be better for my horse,” said Simplification's trainer, Antonio Sano. “When the horse ran six furlongs for the first time, he won easy, but that was a maiden special weight."
Away alertly in the six-horse field, jockey Javier Castellano was merely a passenger as Simplification bulled his way to the front and ticked off fractions of :23.70 and :45.81. Prompted by Skippylongstocking and Mr Rum Runner around the bend, Castellano remained motionless on Simplification as he cruised past the six-furlong marker in 1:09.96. At the top of the lane, the son of Not This Time bounded away from his rivals, increasing his lead with every stride till the wire. He finished four lengths ahead of favored Strike Hard . Mr Rum Runner was a distant third.
The just turned 3-year-old Simplification ($10.40) ran the one-turn mile in 1:35.04 on a fast main track.
"Beautiful. That's what I was looking for today. It's exactly how I handicapped the race. I watched his replays and I worked the horse, and he's got speed but at the same time he is able to relax," said Castellano. "We didn't expect to be on the lead, because we were trying to stretch out the horse and let him develop a good foundation, but he took it in the nice way. I didn't want to take away anything that comes easy, and he was straightforward.
"He was happy and satisfied on the lead, galloping along, and when I asked him he took off and re-broke at the quarter pole. I liked the way he did it. I felt like he did it very easy, in a nice way. I didn't see the fractions, but he did a very comfortable, relaxed pace. I liked the way he galloped out. I don't think he'll have any problem stretching out. Fingers crossed."
The Feb. 5 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and March 5 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), both going 1 1/16 miles, are the next prep races ahead of the $1,000,000 Florida Derby (G1) April 2. All three races are qualifying races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. There were no points awarded for the Mucho Macho Man.
"Right now we're going on to the Holy Bull," said Sano, "I think it's perfect."
Tami Bobo joins jockey Javier Castellano and Simplification in the winner's circle
Bred in Florida by France and Irwin Weiner, Simplification is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Candy Ride mare Simply Confection . He hails from the family of champion Ashado , grade 1 winner Sunriver , and Canadian classic winner Inflexibility . Simply Confection currently has a 2-year-old filly by Mendelssohn and a yearling filly by Audible .
Earlier on the card, Lea Farms’ Lightening Larry sprinted clear in the $100,000 Limehouse Stakes; Whisper Hill Farm's homebred Grand Sonata and Harrell Ventures' Chanceux finished 1-2 in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes; Michael Dini's Alittleloveandluck prevailed in the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes; and Winngate Stables' Kathleen O. powered to an 8 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Cash Run Stakes in just her second career start.