Stakes Tracker: Code of Honor leads tough Mucho Macho Man
While not a points-paying prep toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Saturday's $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes gives the winner every right to hit the trail at Gulfstream Park, preceding races such as the Holy Bull (G2), Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1).
The one-turn mile event will be led by Shug McGaughey trained Code of Honor, last seen finishing second after a stumble at the start of Belmont Park's Champagne Stakes (G1). Since then, the colt scratched the morning of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile -- he would have likely gone as the second choice to Game Winner -- and passed over a try at the Remsen Stakes (G2).
On Saturday, we should find out if the twice-raced son of Noble Mission, a William Farish homebred, is for real.
According to Gulfstream's racing office, the prospective Mucho Macho Man field consists of two last out stakes winners in Sir Winston (Woodbine's Display) and Garter and Tie (Gulfstream's Smooth Air). A trio of talented maiden special weight contenders will also converge with Admire having won at Churchill Downs for trainer Dale Romans, Mihos at Aqueduct for Jimmy Jerkens and Final Jeopardy at Gulfstream for Jason Servis.
Finally, Well Defined should take money as a local, 7 1/2-length winner of the $500,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality before finishing off the board in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. And if the track comes up sloppy, watch out for Trophy Chaser, who posted one of the 2-year-old crop's best Beyer Speed Figures over a wet surface back in August.
Entries will be taken Wednesday for the Mucho Macho Man.
Coliseum the one to beat in Sham
The field for Saturday's points-paying Derby prep, the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes, is much more in flux at this point.
Here's what we know: Trainer Bob Baffert intends to run at least two, the flashy maiden winner Coliseum and Much Better, who last ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. They could take on, among others, Gunmetal Gray, Gray Magician and Value Play.
Here's what we don't: Because early bird nominations for the Santa Anita Derby closed with 101 names on the list, any of those could be entered in the Sham free of additional charge. The racing office is expecting a large field with Keith Desormeaux among the trainers expected to add a horse to the mix between now and Wednesday.
The Sham offers Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the Top 4 finishers and precedes the Feb. 2 Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the trail in California.
Bellafina makes her return
There is another stakes of note run this weekend at The Great Race Place, the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for Kentucky Oaks hopefuls. Multiple Grade 1 winner Bellafina tuned up for it Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.80. The daughter of Quality Road was fourth last out in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.