Pletcher may run Bal Harbour longer after Mucho Macho Man Stakes

Red Oak Stable’s Bal Harbour is slated to seek his third straight stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old colt captured the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park Dec. 9, following up a triumph in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth three months earlier.

“It was a big performance. He closed well off the layoff and he’s trained well since then,” Pletcher said. “I feel good about the way he’s coming into it.”

Like the Smooth Air, the mile Mucho Macho Man will be run around one turn. His win in the mile Sapling came around two turns. In each instance, the son of First Samurai rated off the pace before closing tenaciously in the stretch.

“I think we’ll probably try him around two turns again. He was able to win the Sapling around two turns,” Pletcher said. “He’s been effective around one and two turns. He’s a pretty game, hard-trying horse.”

Bal Harbor broke his maiden at Gulfstream in June before venturing to Saratoga, where he finished fifth in the six-furlong Sanford (G3) and fourth in the Saratoga Special (G3).

“I thought he ran well but I thought he wanted more distance, that’s why we’re happy to get him stretched out,” said Pletcher, whose trainee went on to win the Sapling and Smooth Air.

Pletcher is also slated to saddle Coltandmississippi, who finished fifth in the Smooth Air after experiencing a rocky start.

“He drew the ‘1’ hole last time and I think that compromised his chances. I don’t think he got the position he wanted,” Pletcher said. “He was a little green. We’re adding blinkers for this, and that should make the difference.”

John Velazquez is slated to ride Bal Harbour, while Luis Saez has the assignment on Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias Stable’s Coltandmississippi.

Source: Gulfstream Park news release