Dreaming of Kona Takes Mucho Macho Man Stakes by DQ
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Dreaming of Kona (red shadow roll) wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park
After a gate-to-wire run by Legacy Isle in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the colt was disqualified to second place after stewards ruled that he had interfered with the paths of others during the stretch run. Second-place finisher Dreaming of Kona was awarded the victory.
The Mucho Macho Man, a $150,000 mile event over the main track for 3-year-olds, was Dreaming of Kona's second win and first in stakes company. Last out, the colt ran third in the Dec. 3 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs behind Super Chow , who took the Limehouse Stakes earlier on the New Year's Day card and is undefeated in his past four starts.
Legacy Isle was out of the gate quickly and bounded to the lead, with Dreaming of Kona on his heels in :22.79 and Laver and favorite General Jim in third and fourth, respectively. In :45.20 and 1:10.03 it was still all Legacy Isle as the 10-horse field turned for home. Down the stretch Legacy Isle with Emisael Jaramillo and blocked a clear path for the competition to come through. After the pair held on to cross the wire first by a neck in 1:37.55 over the fast track, a stewards' inquiry was launched.
Due to the closeness of the win, stewards ruled that the interference was significant enough to warrant a disqualification of Legacy Isle from first, and Dreaming of Kona, with Scott Spieth up, was declared the winner. Lord Miles was third.
The connections of Dreaming of Kona in the trophy presentation for the Mucho Macho Man Stakes
Dreaming of Kona ($41.40) improved his record to 2-0-1 from three starts and increased his earnings to $113,420.
Trained by Aldana Spieth for Aldana Gonzalez Racing, and Steve and Lisa Ballou, the Fast Anna colt was a $50,000 purchase by Steve Ballou from the Hoppel's Horse & Cattle Co. consignment to the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company June Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale. Hoppel purchased the colt as a yearling from the Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $14,000.
The colt broke his maiden on first asking in a maiden special weight last October at Presque Isle Downs, where he ran off by 9 1/2 lengths.
Dreaming of Kona was bred in Kentucky by eLGee Farm and is out of the Maria's Mon mare Pliant, who has three winners from four foals to race. He is the last reported foal from the dam.