Gulfstream Park: Guns Loaded holds on to take Mucho Macho Man

Guns Loaded, stepping up to stakes company off a mid-November maiden triumph, established the early lead and had enough left to turn back late-running long shot Treaty of Rome for a neck victory in Saturday’s $165,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Morplay Racing, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable and ridden by Luis Sáez for trainer José D’Angelo, Guns Loaded ($4.60) completed the distance in 1:38.87 over a fast main track as the 6-5 favorite. It was his second straight win and the second consecutive Mucho Macho Man triumph for Sáez following Otello in 2024. Sáez also won with Mutasaabeq in 2021.

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Guns Loaded sprang from the rail post and was alone up front after Macho Music, who was expected to challenge for the lead, broke poorly and found himself shuffled back early. Sáez and Guns Loaded set opening fractions of 24.54 and 47.61 seconds tracked by D’Angelo-trained stablemate McKellen with Treaty of Rome third and previously undefeated Septarian in the clear in fourth.

“The trip was perfect,” Sáez said. “We were concerned about (Macho Music). He have a lot of speed, but he missed the break, and we ended up on the lead, and we took it. He was traveling pretty great. Pretty comfortable. When we came to the top of the stretch, I was trying to save as much horse as I could.”

Six furlongs went in 1:12.75 with Guns Loaded still in command, straightening for home as McKellen began to drop back and Treaty of Rome was swung outside for his bid by jockey Dylan Davis. Guns Loaded clung to the lead as Treaty of Rome closed stoutly but ran out of time, finishing 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Septarian.

Macho Music, Cool Intentions, McKellen and Sonic Skidaddle completed the finish in that order. Naughty Rascal and Rolando were scratched.

“I was pretty sure that he was going to be on the lead. I was just afraid that he would go too fast, because it was his first time going the mile, and from the no. 1 (post), you have to ask a little bit from the gate, but everything worked perfect,” D’Angelo said. “I worked a little this week at the gate with him, ... because you have to go in before everybody, wait and break sharp, and that’s what happened.”

Guns Loaded ran second in his late August unveiling at Saratoga before graduating by 2 3/4 lengths Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs. He tuned up for his sophomore opener with four breezes at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Fla.

“Today he looked green again,” D’Angelo said. “He ran the first time out in Saratoga, and he tried to go inside, and he did the same today. I asked Luis about the gallop out, and he said when he saw the other horse, he got another gear. So that’s good, but we have to train him now going forward.”

D’Angelo said the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles Feb. 1 at Gulfstream would be the next target for Guns Loaded.

“That’s the plan,” he said.