Newly-Turned 3-Year-Olds Begin Year in Mucho Macho Man

The South Florida path to the Kentucky Derby (G1) gets underway Jan. 1 when newly-turned 3-year-olds take their first step towards the starting gate that first Saturday in May in the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Although the Mucho Macho Man is worth no Kentucky Derby points to the victor, the one-mile contest serves as a key prep for the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), a 20-point gem held at Gulfstream Feb. 3.

An evenly matched field of eight sophomores line up on New Year's Day, with last-out maiden winners Otello  and No More Time  leading the charge by the slimmest of margins. The blue-blooded Otello, trained by Christophe Clement, makes his second start off a determined debut victory Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. A homebred for Siena Farm, who co-owns the colt with WinStar Farm, Otello is a son of top stallion Curlin   and Siena's multiple graded stakes-winning mare Isabella Sings .

No More Time heads the local crowd. The Jose D'Angelo trainee was second first time out in September before romping by 6 3/4 lengths when stretched to the mile trip Oct. 22.

Not to be ignored, however, are First World War  and Inveigled . First World War, from the Brendan Walsh barn, was the fourth-place finisher of Keeneland's Bourbon Stakes (G2T) on the turf before switching to the main track Nov. 9. The War Front   colt ran a solid second to the promising Parchment Party  in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer that afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Inveliged, on the other hand, has defeated winners before, coasting clear by 4 3/4 lengths for trainer Jane Cibelli here Dec. 9. The Indiana-bred Enticed   gelding had finished second by a neck in Laurel Park's James F. Lewis III Stakes in his prior start.

Chi Chi Tries the Mile in Cash Run Stakes

Earlier on the card, sophomore fillies will kick off the new year in the $150,000 Cash Run Stakes. Also run at a mile, the Cash Run drew the stakes-winning Audible   filly Chi Chi . Trained by Herman Wilsenky for Ernest Frohboese, the accomplished Florida-bred exits a narrow second-place finish in the Dec. 2 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The Cash Run will be her first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.

Impressive Saratoga Race Course debut winner Queen's Martini  and stakes-placed De Regreso  count themselves among the formidable players.