Mucho Macho Man to Race in 2014

Mucho Macho Man (right) held off Will Take Charge (left) and Declaration of War (center) to win the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, one of the top contenders for the Eclipse Award as champion older male, will remain in training for the 2014 season with a long-range target of a repeat bid in next year’s Classic at Santa Anita Park.

Mucho Macho Man could also test out his ability on the grass next year as a 6-year-old for trainer Kathy Ritvo and owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, according to an announcement made by Mucho Macho Man’s connections on Wednesday.

“We just decided for sure [Tuesday] that we’re going to target the Breeders’ Cup again at Santa Anita,” said Finn Green, stable manager of Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, which campaigns the career earner of $5,340,410.

“The front end of the season right now is wide open. Kathy and I are going to do some evaluating over the next few months and make some decisions about how Kathy is going to start him off.”

Stabled at Gulfstream Park, Mucho Macho Man recovered for an early-season virus and a quarter crack to close out his 2013 season with the two top performances of his career. He romped in the Awesome Again Stakes and then held off Will Take Charge in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, both Grade 1 races, at Santa Anita Park this fall.

“He’s shown us all the right signs and shown us he wants to be on the track,” said Ritvo, the first woman to saddle the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. “He’s looks great. He just loves his job.

“We’ve all put him first — the racing manager, the assistant trainer, the groom, everyone,” Ritvo added. “We’ve gone out of our way to help him become a good horse.”

Mucho Macho Man’s connections said they would explore all options, including the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 18 and the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 8, for his 6-year-old debut. Turf is also an option.

“The horse is potentially extremely versatile,” Green said. “We plan on working the horse on the turf toward the end of the month, and Kathy and I will make a decision after that work about turf for him this year.”

Mucho Macho Man, who finished third in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, will join a strong group of stars expected to return in 2014 that includes 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan and multiple Grade 1 winner Game On Dude and, possibly, Classic runner-up WIll Take Charge.