Mutasaabeq | Horse Racing Free Tips

Triple Crown Hopeful? Mutasaabeq Switches To Dirt For Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man Stakes

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, a Grade 2 stakes winner on turf, is scheduled to make the switch back to dirt for Saturday's $100,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Mucho Macho Man, a one-mile stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds, will kick off the 2021 Road to the Florida Derby (G1) on an 11-race program that will also be highlighted by the $75,000 Limehouse, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds; the $75,000 Dania Beach, a mile turf race for 3-year-olds; the $75,000 Glitter Woman, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies; and the $75,000 Ginger Brew, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Mutasaabeq looked like a colt with a big future on turf after surging from last to capture the Oct. 4 Bourbon (G2) in his grass debut at Keeneland. While major success on turf may well be in the son of Into Mischief's future, trainer Todd Pletcher has opted for the Mucho Macho Man as his next start following a disappointing off-the-board finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland in his 2-year-old season finale.

“I think he's versatile like we see with most Into Mischiefs. We've seen them run on both surfaces,” Pletcher said. “We'd like to see him on dirt again to help clarify that.”

Mutasaabeq started off his career with an impressive triumph over Saratoga's main track in August, drawing away to a 4 ½-length victory while running 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.55. The Kentucky-bred colt returned to finish a distant third in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga a month later before making his turf debut in the Bourbon.

“We're very happy with the way he's training. We decided to get him back on the dirt. He broke his maiden on dirt and ran a respectable third in the Hopeful, so we'll see where we are with him,” Pletcher said.

Luis Saez has the mount aboard Mutasaabeq.

OMGA Investments LLC and Off the Hook LLC's Jirafales is set to make his stakes debut following a most promising Nov. 19 debut victory at Gulfstream Park West. The Gustavo Delgado-trained son of Social Inclusion overcame bumping at the start of the 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds to surge from off the pace to win going away by 4 ½ lengths.

“We didn't expect him to run a race like that. We thought he might need a race. The pace helped a little bit,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., the trainer's son and assistant. “Since that race, he has been training very well. He's improving from that race.”

The homebred colt should have no problem stretching out to a mile, Delgado said.

“He's a huge horse. I'd say he's almost 17 hands,” Delgado said “He has this long stride. He can go all day. We think the longer he goes the better it will be for him.”

Cristian Torres has the return call aboard Jirafales.

Jim Bakke and Jerry Isbister's Ultimate Badger will seek to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill. The son of Commissioner had previously captured an optional claiming allowance before finishing far behind stablemate Smiley Sobotka, who finished second in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Ultimate Badger, who broke his maiden at first asking at Ellis Park, also finished out of the money in his stakes debut at Churchill in the Sept. 5 Iroquois (G3), won by stablemate Sittin On Go. Ultimate Badger came back to finish second and register a victory in optional claiming allowance company.

“He ran two bad races in his life and there are no excuses for either one of them,” trainer Dale Romans said. “They both happened in a stake with horses I know he can compete with. He just threw in some clunkers. He rebounded off the first one, so we're hoping he'll rebound off the last one.”

Corey Lanerie is scheduled to ride Ultimate Badger for the first time Saturday.

Magic Stables LLC's Papetu returns to action at Gulfstream Park after a pair of graded-stakes starts at Saratoga. The Antonio Sano-trained son of Dialed In finished sixth in the Aug. 7 Saratoga Special (G2) and fifth in the Sept. 7 Hopeful (G1) after launching his career with back-to-back victories at Gulfstream.

Leonel Reyes, who was aboard for Papetu's victories, is set for a return to the saddle.

John Bowers Jr.'s Pickin' Time brings graded-stakes credentials into the Mucho Macho Man, having pulled off a 2 ¼-length upset in the Nov. 8 Nashua (G3) at a one-turn mile distance at Aqueduct. The New Jersey homebred son of Stay Thirsty came back to finish a distant fourth in the Dec. 5 Remsen (G2).

Pickin' Time finished eighth in the Saratoga Special after winning his July 4 debut at Monmouth Park.

Joe Bravo has the call aboard the Kelly Breen-trained colt.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Big Thorn is slated to seek his third straight victory and second stakes win in a row in the Mucho Macho Man. The David Fawkes-trained colt, who debuted with a second-place finish in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Sept. 24, graduated with a five-length romp Oct. 29. He followed up that win with a 4 ½-length victory Nov. 22 in the seven-furlong, off-the-turf Juvenile Turf at Gulfstream Park West.

Paco Lopez, who was aboard for both victories, has the return call on the homebred colt.

Breeze Easy LLC's Easy Time, like Jirafales, is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the Mucho Macho Man off a strong debut performance. The Mark Casse-trained son of Not This Time stalked the early pace of a seven-furlong maiden special weight race over Woodbine's synthetic surface before drawing away clearly by 2 ¾ lengths Oct. 25.

Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride Easy Time for the first time Saturday.

John Fanelli and partners' Awesome Gerry and Peachtree Stable's Kiger will represent trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in the Mucho Macho Man field.

Awesome Gerry is coming off a second-place finish in the Nov. 30 Jean Laffitte Stakes at Delta Downs. The son of Liam's Map had previously broken his maiden for a $50,000 claiming tag at Gulfstream, won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park West and finished fourth in the Nyquist at Keeneland.

Kiger graduated second-time out Oct. 29 at Gulfstream Park West before finishing second in a mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream last time out.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call aboard Awesome Gerry, while Edgard Zayas has been named to ride Kiger, a son of Verrazano.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Raison d'Air will be looking to rebound from a distant fourth-place finish in the off-the-turf Armed Forces Sept. 28 over a sloppy Gulfstream surface. The gelded son of Raison d'Etat had previously broken his maiden in his second career start by 13 ½ lengths.

Luca Panici has the call aboard the Kathy Ritvo trainee.

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Milestone In The Breeders’ Cup? Pletcher Has Five Chances To Hit 5,000 During World Championships

Trainer Todd Pletcher said it would be “kind of cool” to hit his next career milestone during this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Heading into this weekend's action, Pletcher has saddled a total of 4,999 winners; on his next trip to the winner's circle, the trainer will become be just the eighth in history to reach 5,000 victories.

“It's a tribute to a lot of great horses over the years,” Pletcher said from Keeneland on Tuesday. “A lot of hard work from a lot of people. It really takes a huge team to supervise all that, so we're grateful, we're hoping it happens soon.”

That milestone win could come at Gulfstream Park on Thursday with Seize The Hay in a claiming race, or in a pair of undercard stakes at Keeneland on Friday (Mo Ready and No Word in the Bryan Station, or Farmington Road and You're To Blame in the G2 TAA Stakes, formerly the Marathon).

Should none of those five make their way to the winner's circle, Pletcher will have three shots to hit the milestone during the Future Stars Friday at the World Championships. Those chances include: Mutasaabeq (Juvenile Turf, 5-1), Union Gables (Juvenile Filly Turf, 20-1), and Likeable (Juvenile, 15-1).

Alternatively, a pair of entrants at Aqueduct on Friday (Microsecond and Malathaat) might be his next trainee in the winner's circle.

Another two Breeders' Cup entrants present opportunities on Saturday: Halladay in the Mile (12-1) and Valiance in the Distaff (12-1).

The lowest odds on a Pletcher trainee in this year's Breeders' Cup are the 5-1 morning line chance given to Mutasaabeq in the Juvenile Turf. Considering he won the the Classic last year with Vino Rosso, Pletcher acknowledged that this year's Championships have a slightly different feel.

“Last year we were fortunate enough to not only win the Classic, but coming in we felt like we had a big chance,” Pletcher said. “We're coming in with a little different group this year. We have some young horses that are doing really well, but we don't have that clear-cut standout.

“It seems like a lot of times you get right on the cusp of the milestone and then have trouble getting through. We had five chances at Belmont last weekend and we couldn't quite get there, but I suppose if it were to happen in a Breeders' Cup race, it'd be kind of cool.”

Thanks to the National Turfwriters and Broadcasters Association (NTWAB), which has assembled a group of pool reporters providing independent reporting to members unable to be on the Keeneland grounds this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Pletcher: Halladay Puts In ‘Good Solid Work’ For Mile, Happy Saver Out Of Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has 4,993 career wins heading into Friday's racing action, breezed a quintet of Breeders' Cup contenders over the past two mornings at Belmont Park.

Harrell Ventures' Halladay, winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave last out on Aug. 22 at Saratoga Race Course, worked five-eighths in company Friday in 1:00.60 on the fast dirt training track while being pressed from the outside by maiden winner Jerry the Nipper, a 3-year-old New York-bred.

It was the second breeze back for the Breeders' Cup Mile contender after scratching out of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on October 3 at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.

“I thought it was a good work. We normally don't work him in company, but seeing as we're a little rushed for time between races, I wanted to get a good solid work into him today in company,” said Pletcher. “He's a very willing work horse on his own but the fact that we missed the prep race we wanted to get a good solid company work into him and we got what we were hoping for.

“He responded quickly to antibiotics and everything has gone according to plan so far,” added Pletcher.

The 4-year-old War Front gray, who captured the Tropical Park Derby in December at Gulfstream Park, took a big step forward in his 4-year-old campaign, reeling off a trio of triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures over his last four starts from wins in an optional-claimer [102] on the Gulfstream turf in April; a 1 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch [103] at the Spa in July; and a 105 Beyer for his frontrunning Fourstardave coup.

“He's always been an impressive horse to watch train,” said Pletcher. “The key to him getting better has been that he's learned to settle and relax a bit in the early part of his races. He was on the bridle in the early part of his breeze today with his company but he wasn't throwing his head and getting silly about it.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz and CHC Inc.'s Valiance made the grade last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland. The Tapit gray clocked a half-mile in 48.04 on the dirt training track Friday while working outside of 3-year-old allowance-winning filly Thankful.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be in really good form at the moment. I was really happy with the work and gallop out.”

A six-time winner from eight starts, Pletcher said the $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase continues to improve with each start ahead of facing deeper waters in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This is another step up but she seems to be in the best form of her career,” said Pletcher. “As she's gotten older and more mature and stronger, she's trained better on the dirt. She's won her last two starts on the dirt and has a win over the track which never hurts.”

Valiance, who won the off-the-turf Eatontown at Monmouth Park in August ahead of her Spinster score, is out of the Grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Last Full Measure.

Breeders' Cup hopefuls Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf], Likeable [Juvenile] and Union Gables [Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Turf Sprint] worked on Thursday at Belmont.

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, who was third in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful in September ahead of a last-out win in the Grade 2 Bourbon on October 4 at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in 49.75 through the fog on the dirt training track.

“We were under quite a bit of fog at the time, but what we could see looked very good. He seemed to be moving great and came back well,” said Pletcher.

By Into Mischief and out of the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, Mutasaabeq was a $425,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables' Likeable worked five-eighths in 1:02.11 on Big Sandy under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

The Frosted bay finished second in his August 22 debut at Saratoga under Irad Ortiz, Jr. ahead of his impressive 8 ¼-length maiden score under Luis Saez in a one-turn mile on September 19 at Belmont.

“I wanted him [Velazquez] to get a feel for the horse and to learn something about him,” said Pletcher. “We've always liked this horse a lot. His two races have been good and he's trained like we would have hoped since then.”

Pletcher said Likeable is training forwardly enough that he opted for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile rather than the Grade 3 Nashua on November 8 at the Big A.

“The choices are do you take a conservative route like the Nashua or do you take a shot at the long ball when the horse is doing really well,” said Pletcher. “We figured there's a lot of upside if we're fortunate and not a lot of downside if were not.”

GMP Stables and F. Bellavia's Union Gables, a 2-year-old Speightstown filly, breezed a half-mile in 50.25 on the dirt training track. She finished third in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson on September 3 at Saratoga ahead of a last-out second in the Grade 3 Matron at six furlongs on the Belmont turf on October 11.

“I think we'll pre-enter Union Gables in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and second choice in the Juvenile Turf Sprint after her second in the Matron. We'll see where she lands and how popular those races are,” said Pletcher.

Union Gables was a private purchase following her first-out graduation on the Saratoga main track on August 4 for former trainer Gary Gullo.

Pletcher said Wertheimer and Frere's undefeated Happy Saver, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10 at Belmont, will not enter the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Super Saver sophomore graduated on June 20 at Belmont ahead of a nine-furlong allowance win against older horses in July at the Spa. He entered the Jockey Club Gold Cup from a prominent win in the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park on September 7.

“We're going to pass on the Breeders' Cup with him and make a decision in the next week on whether we'll give him some time off or focus on a Plan B towards the Pegasus [at Gulfstream]. I think the Classic is coming up a little too soon,” said Pletcher. “He's a horse we plan to race next year and I felt like for the long term skipping this race and focusing on 2021 is the right move for him. He has a lot of talent and we want to make sure we keep him fresh for next year.”

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Pletcher Breeders’ Cup Troops Gearing Up at Belmont

Trainer Todd Pletcher breezed a quintet of Breeders’ Cup contenders over the past two mornings at Belmont Park.

Halladay (War Front) (Mile), winner of the GI Fourstardave H. last out Aug. 22 at Saratoga, worked five-eighths in company Friday in 1:00.60 on the fast dirt training track. He was scratched out of the GI Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 3 at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.

“I thought it was a good work. We normally don’t work him in company, but seeing as we’re a little rushed for time between races, I wanted to get a good solid work into him today in company,” said Pletcher. “He’s a very willing work horse on his own but the fact that we missed the prep race we wanted to get a good solid company work into him and we got what we were hoping for. He responded quickly to antibiotics and everything has gone according to plan so far.”

Valiance (Tapit) (Distaff) made the grade last out in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 4 at Keeneland. She clocked a half-mile in :48.04 on the dirt training track Friday.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be in really good form at the moment. I was really happy with the work and gallop out. This is another step up but she seems to be in the best form of her career.”

Fellow Breeders’ Cup hopefuls ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief) (Juvenile Turf), Likeable (Frosted) (Juvenile) and Union Gables (Speighstown) (Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Turf Sprint) worked on Thursday at Belmont.

Pletcher added that the undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Happy Saver (Super Saver), a last-out winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 10 at Belmont, will not enter the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“We’re going to pass on the Breeders’ Cup with him and make a decision in the next week on whether we’ll give him some time off or focus on a Plan B towards the Pegasus. I think the Classic is coming up a little too soon,” said Pletcher. “He’s a horse we plan to race next year and I felt like for the long term skipping this race and focusing on 2021 is the right move for him. He has a lot of talent and we want to make sure we keep him fresh for next year.”

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