Dak Attack, Bal Harbour among Mucho Macho Man Stakes nominations

Albaugh Family Stables and Brereton C. Jones’ undefeated stakes winner Dak Attack and Bal Harbour, a winner of back-to-back stakes for Red Oak Stable, are among 25 horses nominated to the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Jan. 6 at Gulfstream Park.

The one-mile Mucho Macho Man kicks off Gulfstream’s series of prep races for 3-year-olds leading up to the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) March 31. Also in the series are the $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) and $200,000 Swale (G2) Feb. 3 and $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (G2) March 3.

Dak Attack, a bay son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, captured his career debut June 15 at Churchill Downs and came back with a three-length victory in the Ellis Park Juvenile Aug. 20, his most recent race. He has had two works for trainer Dale Romans since arriving at Gulfstream, going five furlongs in 1:00.81 Dec. 23. West Point Thoroughbreds’ Seven Trumpets, also trained by Romans, is nominated off back-to-back victories at Churchill Downs

Bal Harbour, by Grade 1 winner First Samurai, overcame a troubled start for a gutsy neck victory in the Smooth Air Dec. 9 at Gulfstream, his first start since taking the Sapling Sept. 2 at Monmouth Park – both races coming at the Mucho Macho Man’s one-mile distance. His Todd-Pletcher-trained stablemate, WinStar Farm homebred Noble Indy, is also entered off an 8 ¾-length debut triumph Dec. 3 at Gulfstream.

Cairoli Racing Stable’s Santiamen, 2-0 to start his career for trainer Antonio Sano including a victory over winners last out Dec. 21; First State Dash winner Whereshetoldmetogo, second in the Smooth Air, and Gulfstream stakes winners Renaissance Frolic and Speed Franco; stakes-placed Aequor, Forever Taken, Piven, Pony Up and Stronger; and recent maiden winners California Night, Mask, Mister Bister and Septimius Severus are also among the nominees.

The Mucho Macho Man is one of five stakes for 3-year-olds worth $450,000 in purses on the Jan. 6 program at Gulfstream, joined by the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy and $100,000 Ginger Brew for females, both at 7 ½ furlongs on turf, and the $75,000 Limehouse and $75,000 Glitter Woman for females, each six furlongs on the main track.

The Kitten’s Joy attracted 24 nominations led by John Oxley’s Flameaway, winner of the off-the-turf Bourbon (G3) Oct. 8 at Keeneland who exits an eighth-place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) Nov. 3; Juvenile Turf winner Nauti Buoy and Maraud, third in the Pilgrim (G3) Dec. 9.

Undefeated Win the War, a stakes winner in Canada, Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Homemade Salsa and Jimmy Durante (G3) runner-up Data Dependent are among 28 sophomore fillies nominated to the Ginger Brew.

The Limehouse drew 19 nominations including Santiamen, Aequor and Piven, also nominated to the Mucho Macho Man, while 22 fillies were nominated to the Glitter Woman led by stakes-placed Foxtrot Sally, Lil B Quick, Luzmimi Princess and Toni Ann’s Miracle.