BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Macho Music sprinted out the one-mile chute at Churchill Downs with a short lead then never looked back on his way to a three-and-a-quarter-length upset victory in the $539,500 Pat Day Mile (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs. In winning his second consecutive stakes after a dominating victory the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore at Tampa Bay Downs, Macho Music earned his first graded stakes credentials while defeating eight other 3-year-olds in the over a sloppy and sealed track.

Ridden from post seven by Javier Castellano, Macho Music had a half-length on 5-2 favorite Madaket Road through the first quarter in :22.43 and increased that margin to a length-and-a-quarter while finishing the half mile in :44.93. The Bob Baffert-trained pair of Gaming and Madaket Road tried to apply pressure approaching the quarter pole, but Macho Music accelerated away from those two at the top of the stretch.

Castellano kept busy on Macho Music in the long stretch at Churchill Downs to finish in 1:35.55 with Madaket Road second and Gaming third. They were followed in order by Gale to Wire, Perfect Force, Smoken Wicked, Innovator, California Burrito and Built.

Macho Music paid $29.86 in becoming the first Florida-bred to win the Pat Day Mile since Rushie in 2020.

 

Macho Music has shown potential since his second start, a nine-and-a-half-length romp against Florida-bred special weight maidens at Gulfstream Park in August. He then won a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming by four-and-a-half lengths going six furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 5 before completing his juvenile season there, finishing fourth in the $197,000 Bowman Mill on Oct. 26.

Crichton kept him in stakes company for his 3-year-old year, starting with a fourth-place finish in the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man going a mile at Gulfstream on Jan. 4. Macho Music then finished second to Gate to Wire in the $155,000 Swale at Gulfstream on Feb. 1 before heading to Tampa Bay Downs on March 30. He was one of the stars on Florida Cup Day, winning the OBS Sophomore by 11 ½ lengths while covering six furlongs in a 1:21.30, both stakes records. 

He joins a long list of Sophomore winners that became graded stakes winners including millionaire Imperial Hint, Jackson, Prudhoe Bay, City of Weston, Electrify and Weigelia.

With the $297,600 check for winning the Pat Day Mile, Macho Music more than doubles his earnings to $501,857 for owners Mark Taylor, Daniel Walters and Crichton. He has now won half of his eight career starts with two seconds. 

Crichton purchased Macho Music as a 2-year-old in training for $60,000 out of the 2024 OBS March Sale where he was consigned by Joe Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts’ Pick View. He was also a $50,000 yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale where he was purchased by Anthony Tate.
(Macho Music’s Under Tack Video)

By Maclean’s Music out of Southern Girl, by Tapit, Macho Music was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm. Southern Girl has three winners from four starters with Macho Music being her only stakes winner. She has an unraced 2-year-old full sister to Macho Music, Tremont Tammy, who sold for $180,000 at the last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale and an unnamed yearling colt by Epicenter. She was bred to Girvin in 2024.

Stakes-winner Southern Girl is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winning Florida-bred millionaire and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)-winner Mucho Macho Man. She was purchased by Bridlewood Farm for $820,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipon Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

Prior to Rushie, eight other Florida-breds won the Pat Day Mile, including seven when the race was known as the Derby Trial. Hurricane Ike won the Pat Day Mile in 2010. Macho Again (2008), Midas Eyes (2003), Meetyouattherbrig (2001), Valid Expectations (1996), Cherokee Run (1993), On the Line (1987) and Dreamy Prospect (1979) won the Derby Trial.

Return to the May 3 issue of Wire to Wire