Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Mucho's done for the year

Trainer Bill Mott considers Mucho's starts this year "three good races," and he's seen enough from the 2-year-old colt to start a freshening now before the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail kicks into higher gear.

The New York Racing Association's publicity department reports that the last out Hopeful Stakes (G1) runner-up is healthy but will not race again this year.

"He's already at Fair Hill," Mott said of the Maryland training center. "We won't pick him back up til November."

A son of Blame, Mucho was second on debut June 10 at Belmont Park before returning to post a 9 3/4-length maiden win Aug. 4 at Saratoga. The performance earned Mucho a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, still among the best of the crop so far, and made him the Hopeful favorite. he ended up 3/4 of a length behind the winner, Mind Control, but appeared to many the prospect poised to succeed at longer distances.

Mucho hadn't worked since the Sept. 3 Hopeful leading up to news he's taking time off. Expect him to appear back in the work tab when the string's top runners move to Florida for the winter.

Mott isn't done with 2-year-old stakes, however. He's sending Unionizer to Keeneland's Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on Saturday, with the race offering Kentucky Derby points along with a free spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The homebred Union Rags colt won Monmouth Park's Sapling Stakes on Sept. 1, stopping the clock in 1:42.54 for a mile. He, as with Mucho, has made three starts.