Met Mile Dreamin’ - Caleb’s Posse vs. Mucho Macho Man

With Kentucky Derby fever in full flight, fans are clamoring for Union Rags – Hansen II. I’m all for that; a real honest to goodness rivalry through the Triple Crown would be great for our sport, but a couple of performances this past week have me very excited for the potential of another match-up. First Caleb’s Posse closed like a rocket to just miss in the Tom Fool at Aqueduct last week, and then yesterday, Mucho Macho Man toyed with a solid field in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Two of my favorite things in racing are anticipation and a real showdown. Often these two things come together, as we dream about potential match-ups between true stars of the sport. Sometimes our anticipation is rewarded, Affirmed and Alydar went at it ten times, and sometimes it is not, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta never raced. Either way, the thought of what might happen is something that makes our sport just a little more exciting. I ask you, how much fun would a Caleb’s Posse vs. Mucho Macho Man meeting in Belmont’s Met Mile be?
 
Caleb’s Posse may not be a two-turn horse, but give him one-turn and he has proven to be a real monster. In fact, he’s proven it time and time again. Caleb’s Posse has won many stakes races, but it was the Grade 1 King’s Bishop that took his star to a new level. When the talented Uncle Mo took command in the stretch it would have been hard to believe that anyone would come get him. Sure enough, Caleb’s Posse did with a late rush to get there on the wire. After one more attempt at two turns, the Donnie Von Hemel charge was ready to become a Breeders’ Cup winner, and he did it in virtuoso style. Content to sit way back off a strong early pace in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Caleb’s Posse appeared to be shot out of a cannon down the lane, sweeping to a romping win against some of the best 8 furlong horses the country has to offer. He did not get the Eclipse Award as America’s top three-year-old, as many thought he should, during the off-season, but he promises he may be even better this year judging from his powerhouse finish in the six furlong Tom Fool. The Carter and then the Met Mile would seem to be a perfect fit for the sprinting late-runner, but in the Met he could face his toughest competition yet.
 
Last year, Mucho Macho Man was the physical specimen who just needed to time to grow into his sizable frame. Ever since that big kid, who was able to run third in last year’s Kentucky Derby despite obvious immaturity, came back from an extended break last fall, he has been dominating his foes in impressive style. Starting with a mile optional claimer at Aqueduct, the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable runner has looked every bit the part of an emerging superstar. After whistling in fast time at the Big A, Mucho Macho Man has easily dispatched of solid fields in the Sunshine Millions Classic and yesterday’s Gulfstream Park Handicap. In the Sunshine Millions, he was able to easily hold off the late rally of Ron the Greek at nine furlongs. That performance was flattered when his vanquished came back to sweep to victory next out in the Santa Anita Handicap. Cut back to a mile yesterday, Mucho Macho Man displayed oodles of class when reeling in the dangerous speed of Tackleberry, with another top runner, Jackson Bend, never able to get to close with his late rally. Caleb’s Posse may be the current top of the mile heap, but clearly, Mucho Macho Man is ready to challenge.
 
You can see why I am greatly anticipating this year’s Met Mile … oh, and did I mention that To Honor and Serve is starting to crank up the workouts at Palm Meadows?

Read More

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Best horse meets the challenge
This is the 17th and final installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the...
Speed figures: Forever Young leads fastest stakes winners
Forever Young earned a sparkling 140 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup...
Ted Noffey dam Streak of Luck sells for $6.2 million
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., posted sales of more than...
Tuesday works: Owen Almighty leads graded winners on tab
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...
Half Yours wins Melbourne Cup; Parchment Party finishes 19th
A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia's most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself...