Mihos Makes Winning Move in Mucho Macho Man
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Mihos wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park
After a short freshman campaign that spanned only three months, Centennial Farms' Mihos stepped up in a big way in 2019 and scored his first black-type win in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 5 at Gulfstream Park.
First from the gate in the one-mile test for 3-year-olds, Mihos settled in fifth as Gladiator King set the pace and led the pack through the first half-mile in :45.42.
Pressing the leaders three wide on the outside, Trophy Chaser edged passed Gladiator King and a hard-driving Well Defined to take command at the five-sixteenths pole and open up a 1 1/2-length lead.
Racing widest in the six-horse field, Mihos made brief contact with Code of Honor in the backstretch before commencing his five-wide rally to the lead. Trophy Chaser held gamely in a determined drive to the wire but was unable to prevail over Mihos, who edged him by a neck in a final time of 1:37.56.
"We were a little wide the whole way," said winning jockey Jose Ortiz. "We had the outside post. Code of Honor was on my inside, and I tried to make a move. I tried to run with him. I thought he was the horse to beat. I thought it would take a lot of speed to catch Trophy Chaser.
"At the three-eighths pole, I was targeting Code of Honor because I thought he was the horse to beat. When we got to the three-sixteenths, my horse switched leads a little late. Trophy Chaser got away from me a little bit, but when he changed leads and I hit left-handed, he gave me a great kick. He had a target in front of him, and he kept coming."
Garter and Tie took third, followed by Code of Honor another 5 1/4 lengths back. Well Defined and Gladiator King completed the order of finish.
John Velazquez, who was aboard grade 1-placed favorite Code of Honor, said the son of Noble Mission took a deep breath at the quarter pole and dropped the bridle.
The Mucho Macho Man is the first stakes prep race on Gulfstream's road to the March 30 Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1), but Mihos' trainer, Jimmy Jerkens, said future racing plans have yet to be determined for the colt.
"He was resolute, that's for sure," said Jerkens. "That's kind of typical of him. … Even when he looked like he didn't have the best of it, he gives himself a little breather and then comes again.
"I don't have a schedule really in my head as far as dates and things like that, but we'll certainly look at all the usual spots down here. I wanted to get by this first and then figure it out."
Bred in Kentucky by Wayne, Gray, and Bryan Lyster out of the Lion Heart mare Feline Flatline, the son of Cairo Prince was purchased by Centennial for $320,000 from Ashview Farm's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Mihos has two wins and a third from three starts, with $108,880 in earnings.
The Mucho Macho Man was the last of five stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday's 11-race card.
Seismic Jolt impressed with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Limehouse Stakes, a $75,000 race restricted to 3-year-olds with no prior stakes win. Boxwood took the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. Fancy Dress Party scored her third win in as many starts, dominating the $75,000 Glitter Woman Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths, and Casa Creed rounded out the day with a win in the $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.