Paolucci: Machismo can ‘excel’ on short rest in Arkansas Derby

From the moment Machismo drew the No. 13 post position for last weekend’s Blue Grass Stakes, owner Ron Paolucci considered the race a prep.

A son of More Than Ready, Machismo would either put in a speedy breeze at Keeneland or race. Either way — unless he managed a victory — the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby came next a week later.

“It’s not something you want to do all the time — run them back in seven days,” said Paolucci, who campaigns his horses under the Loooch Racing Stables name. “But in this horse’s case, he’s probably going to excel. He’s probably going to run the best race of his life.”

The decision left Paolucci catching heat on social media, with the owner known to fire right back on his Twitter account. In this case, consider his argument for it:

• Paolucci said he has watched Machismo train in Florida each morning since mid-December. “I know every in and out he has,” he said. “This is a horse that does better with more work.”

• Machismo ran fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth despite begin stepped on early in the going. In the Blue Grass, eventual winner Good Magic pushed the colt wide into the first turn. Machismo wasn't heavily urged late.

• Paolucci doesn’t have a case of 2018 Kentucky Derby fever. Since purchasing Machismo privately, he has had in mind the Belmont Stakes more than the Triple Crown series’ first jewel, and still plans to target the June 9 race.

“Will we go to the Derby if we run first or second? If we win, I think we have to go,” Paolucci said. “If we run a bad second, hang on and get beat five, six lengths or something — I do have three partners in the horse — so if they want to go and the horse is doing well, I probably would.

“If it was strictly up to me, I wouldn’t. This is such a deep crop of 3-year-olds. He’s got to win this race for me to think he should go.”

Machismo drew the No. 2 post position this time around and sits 20-1 on the Arkansas Derby's morning line. Now trained by Anthony Quartarolo, the colt started in the Todd Pletcher barn, then campaigned by the partnership of WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing that has multiple Derby contenders themselves.

Machismo broke his maiden Feb. 3 at fourth asking before advanced to the Fountain of Youth. In the Blue Grass, he also lost a shoe.

Paolucci said he considers the stress of the Kentucky Derby — a boisterous crowd, and close-quarters racing in a field of 20 — a more stressful experience for a horse than racing twice in seven days.

“Anybody that’s never owned a horse really should have a hard time talking about what the owner or trainer does with a horse,” Paolucci said, “because we’re with them seven days a week, sometimes eight to 10 hours a day.

“...This theory that you can’t run a horse back in seven days or 14 days is insane. Some horses are harder on themselves training than they are racing. Not every horse can do it — but the good, sound ones can.”