Stakes Winner Naughty Rascal Heads Mucho Macho Man

Naughty Rascal , a colt by Rogueish  , faces a field of eight newly turned 3-year-olds in the $165,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 4 at Gulfstream Park. He finished second in his return to the dirt in the six-furlong Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 7. Naughty Rascal will stretch back out to one mile over the dirt, a distance he won at in the Armed Forces Stakes over the turf Nov. 2. 

The Florida-bred colt, trained by Gerald Bennett, has two stakes wins for owners Mr Pug and J.P.G. 2. Naughty Rascal will take on two Chad Brown trainees, Treaty of Rome  and the undefeated Septarian . 

Septarian, a gelding by Protonico , is coming off an allowance optional claiming win at Laurel Park Nov. 8. He will race in the silks of his new owner—John Stewart's Resolute Racing. The $1,700 RNA yearling will take on stablemate Treaty of Rome, a colt by the late Uncle Mo, who broke his maiden going one mile on the dirt at Aqueduct Dec. 7 for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

Brendan Walsh sends out Calumet Farm bred-and-owned Sonic Skidaddle , who looks to improve off his troubled last-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs. 

Drawn on the rail is the speedy Guns Loaded , who broke his maiden second out in fast time at Churchill Downs in what has been a productive race.