The $100,000 Mucho Macho Man, the first stakes on the Road to the Curlin Florida Derby (G1), will be the headliner of six stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds scheduled for the Jan. 1 New Year's Day program at Gulfstream Park.
The mile stakes named in honor of the Gulfstream Park-based winner of the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic attracted 19 nominations, including the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained trio of White Abarrio, A.P.'s Secret and Skippylongstocking. C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs after winning his first two career starts impressively at Gulfstream. Gentry Farms' A.P.'s Secret has run twice at Gulfstream, winning his debut by four lengths before finishing second in an optional claiming allowance. Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking finished a nose behind A.P.'s Secret in the Dec. 5 optional claiming allowance.
Miracle's International Trading Inc.'s Strike Hard, who defeated both A.P.'s Secret and Skippylongstocking in his most recent start, is being pointed to the Mucho Macho Man by trainer Matthew Williams. The son of Flashback has previously finished second behind White Abarrio October 29 at Gulfstream.
Robert and Lawana Low's My Prankster, trained by 19-time Championship Meet titlist Todd Pletcher, is prominent on the list of nominations. The son of Into Mischief broke his maiden at Saratoga by 10 lengths before finishing fourth in the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont, second in the Bowman Mill at Keeneland, and winning a Dec. 10 optional claiming allowance.
Cheyenne Stables LLC's Cooke Creek is also a prominent nominee on the strength of a runner-up finish in the Nov. 7 Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct and a previous stakes victory at Delaware Park for trainer Michael Trombetta.
The Mucho Macho Man will be followed by the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 5 and the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) leading up to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2.
The $100,000 Cash Run, a mile event for 3-year-old fillies, attracted 15 nominations, including David Bernsen and Schroeder Farm LLC's Cairo Remedies, runner-up in the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos last time out.
Westerberg Limited, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Sweet as Pie, who finished fourth in the Tempted after winning her debut at Belmont, is one of two fillies trained by Pletcher on the Cash Run noms list. The Hall of Fame trainer is also represented by Red Oak Stable's Goddess of Fire, a debut winner at Saratoga who finished third in the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs and fifth in the Tempted.
Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, Amy Dunne and Patrick Biancone Racing LLC's Diamond Wow, who finished second by a head in the Jessamine (G2)on turf at Keeneland after winning the Our Dear Peggy on dirt at Gulfstream, and Westlake Racing Stable's Miss Mattie B., a recent maiden winner on turf at Santa Anita, are both nominated to the Cash Run, as well as the $100,000 Ginger Brew, a mile turf race for sophomore fillies.
The Ginger Brew drew 16 nominations. Cairo Memories is also nominated for both the Cash Run and Ginger Brew.
The $100,000 Dania Beach, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, received 20 nominations, including Klaravich Stables Inc.'s Unanimous Consent, a British-bred colt who has been unraced since debuting at Monmouth in September with a dominating triumph. D J Stable LLC's Massetto, a Group 2-placed finish in Europe who finished fourth in her U.S. debut in Kentucky Downs' Juvenile Filly Sprint; and Whisper Hill Farms' Grand Sonata, a sharp maiden winner at Keeneland before encountering a trouble trip in the Nov. 27 Central Park at Aqueduct; are also prominent nominees.
The $100,000 Limehouse, a six-furlong sprint, attracted 16 nominations, while the $100,000 Glitter Woman, a six-furlong sprint for fillies, drew 18 nominations.
Three stakes for 3-year-olds and up are also scheduled Friday, Dec. 31 – the $100,000 Abundantia, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, the $100,000 Janus, a five-furlong turf sprint, and the $100,000 Via Borghese, a 1 3/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.
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