BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Unsuccessful in his last effort in the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs on September 26, Florida-bred graded stakes-winner Macho Music is entered against a competitive group of five other 3-year-olds and older in a $175,000 optional claiming under the Twin Spires Saturday. The Florida-bred son of Maclean’s Music has the outside post and jockey Luis Saez gets the mount in the mile-and-one-sixteenth contest with a $148,000 purse.
A three-and-a-half-length winner of the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile presented by SAP at Churchill Downs in May of last year, Macho Music is in search of his first victory in seven starts in 2026.
Trained by Rohan Crichton—who also owns the 4-year-old colt with Mark Fletcher Taylor and Daniel L. Walters—Macho Music was in front at the first point of call in the one-mile Ack Ack, but tired in the turn to finish last of seven.
He was more competitive in his three previous starts including twice at Colonial Downs when second versus upper tier, $75,000 optional claimers going a mile on August 20 and when third under the same conditions going six-and-a-half furlongs there on July 6. He was also third in a top level, $100,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Churchill Downs in June.
Macho Music has a career record of four wins, three seconds and two thirds in 17 starts with earnings of $566,688. Crichton bought him for $60,000 out of the Pick View consignment of Joe Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts of Ocala at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. Macho Music is out of the Tapit mare Southern Girl and was bred in Florida by John and Leslie Malone’s Bridlewood Farm in Ocala.
Macho Music is 5-1 on the morning line.
Cooke Creek is the 5-2 program favorite after finishing second last time to next out Maryland Million Classic-winner Barbadian Runner in the $200,000 Battery Park over a sloppy and sealed nine furlongs at Delaware Park on October 3. His lone victory in five starts this year came in a $50,000 starter allowance going a mile at Oaklawn Park on April 25.
Cooke Creek is trained by Michael Maker and the 7-year-old gelded son of Uncle Mo has earned $740,927 for owner Flying P Stable, winning seven with five seconds and five thirds in 33 career outings.
Tyler Gaffalione will ride Cooke Creek from post four.
Others entered are Gearing Up with Cristian Torres named to ride, Rafael Bejarano has the call on Poster, Prince of Power will have Francisco Arrieta in the irons and Mackman has jockey Jose Ortiz named in the program.
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