BY BROCK SHERIDAN
November 2, 2013—After finishing second to Fort Larned in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic the previous year at Santa Anita, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Mucho Macho Man returned to the Great Race Place to join Florida-breds Unbridled (1990) and Skip Away (1997) as winners of the prestigious contest.
Sent to the post as the 4-1 second choice behind 8-5 favorite Game on Dude after winning the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita in his previous start, Mucho Macho Man and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens raced in fifth early, about two lengths behind the front-running trio of Fort Larned, Moreno and Game on Dude through fractions of :23.39 46.36 and 1:10.23.
Stevens sent Mucho Macho Man at the leaders around the far turn then dueled with Fort Larned at the top of the stretch before taking command inside the final furlong. Mucho Macho Man had to hold off a late run from Will Take Charge but finished a nose in front in a final time of 2:00.72 on the fast track. Declaration of War was another head back in third.
Mucho Macho Man paid $10 to win while earning $2,750,000 and increasing his career bankroll at the time to more than $5.3 million.
He would win the $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions in his next start in January at Gulfstream Park before returning to Santa Anita finish fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap in March of 2014 in the last race of his career.
Trained by Kathy Ritvo, Mucho Macho Man retired with nine wins, five seconds and six thirds from 25 starts and earnings of $5,625,421. He currently ranks third among all-time leading Florida-bred money earners behind Skip Away ($9,616,360) and Silver Charm ($6,944,369).
Mucho Macho Man is out of Ponche de Leona, by Ponche and was bred in the Sunshine State by the late John D. Rio and Carole A. Rio. Mucho Macho Man has had success as sire with representation from Grade 1-winning millionaire, Grade 2-winning millionaire City Man and Grade 1-winner Mucho Unusual.
