'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief), already a graded winner on turf of the GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland last season, returned to the main track and asserted his authority late to take Saturday's Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park. Away in good order, the $425,000 Keeneland November weanling fell into a good stalking trip as Awesome Gerry took them along at a solid tempo down the backstretch. The 11-10 chalk appeared to be making hard work of it as they hit the three-furlong marker and Luis Saez was all over his mount, but Mutasaabeq responded to the busy ride to claim the lead with a furlong and a half to race and bounded home a clear-cut winner.
A 4 1/2-length debut winner at Saratoga at first asking Aug. 8, earning the 'Rising Star' designation in the process, Mutasaabeq was a distant third to Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) in the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. Sept. 7, then overcame a tardy dispatch to win the Bourbon with a furious stretch rally. An 11-2 chance in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the bay raced wide on both turns and was beaten better than 10 lengths in 10th behind Fire At Will (Declaration of War).
Mutasaabeq is out of a half-sister to MGSW Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) who was acquired with this foal in utero for $180,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale. Her progeny in the pipeline include: a California Chrome filly of 2019 and an Uncle Mo colt of 2020. She was bred to Audible for 2021.
“We've been targeting this,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I thought he ran great. We wanted to make sure he got away from the gate cleanly–that hasn't always been his best first step. I thought he broke pretty well today and put himself in a good spot. Luis had to get after him a little bit on the turn and kept responding and finding more. I thought it was a big effort. We'll look to try another one on dirt. I'll talk to the team at Shadwell and come up with a plan. I think today he showed his versatility. He's now a stakes winner on both surfaces. It's exciting to have one like that.”
MUCHO MACHO MAN S., $100,000, Gulfstream, 1-2, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.98, ft.
1–MUTASAABEQ, 122, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Grand Breeze, by Grand Slam
3rd Dam: Breeze Lass, by It's Freezing
($425,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Shadwell Stable; B-BlackRidge
Stables LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $59,520.
Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-3-0-1, $259,120.
'TDN Rising Star'
2–Papetu, 120, c, 3, Dialed In–Lady Malkin, by Sharp Humor.
($80,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Magic Stables LLC; B-Almar Farm,
LLC (KY); T-Antonio Sano. $19,200.
3–Awesome Gerry, 120, c, 3, Liam's Map–Star of Munster, by
Tribal Rule. ($45,000 RNA Wlg '18 KEENOV; $37,000 RNA Ylg
'19 KEESEP; $50,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-John Fanelli,
Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman & Timothy
Pinch; B-John Liviakis (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $9,600.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 8HF. Odds: 1.10, 20.30, 5.10.
Also Ran: Pickin' Time, Ultimate Badger, Big Thorn, Raison d'Air, Easy Time, Kiger. Scratched: Jirafales.
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