Tommy Macho too game to lose in Fred W. Hooper Stakes
By Christine Oser
More than a year removed from his last win, Tommy Macho proved too game in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park, an undercard feature for the Grade 1, $16 million Pegasus World Cup. The win gave trainer Todd Pletcher his third victory of the day.
Making his 6-year-old debut, the son of Macho Uno earned his last win in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes last January. Tommy Macho was also the 2016 winner of the Fred W. Hooper.
“He’s a cool horse,” said Pletcher. “I give the horse a lot of credit. He loves Gulfstream. He loves the one-turn mile. He’s been awfully good to us.”
Saez asked his mount to go on the far turn and the 2-1 favorite easily picked off the horses in front, taking up the lead when he turned for home. Emerging on the outside was Conquest Big E, who kept cutting into Tommy Macho’s lead. Each time Conquest Big E moved closer, Tommy Macho dug deep and refused to give up. Tale of Silence gave chase when free from the rail, but the front two were already gone.
Tommy Macho hit the wire first by three-quarters of a length over Conquest Big E, finishing the mile in 1:36.10.
“That stretch run was really impressive,” said Saez, Gulfstream Park’s leading rider. “He was really ready for this race today. He broke well, we got a perfect position, and when we hit the stretch he just took off. I feel blessed and proud with how my season is going.”
Tale of Silence was another 4 ½ lengths back in third, followed by Giuseppe the Great, Frammento, First Growth, Beasley, Eight Town and Moves Like Ali. Dreaming of Gold and Game Over were scratched.
The Fred W. Hooper marked the sixth win from 19 starts for Tommy Macho. Owned by Paul Pompa Jr., the $25,000 yearling has now earned $888,320.
As for future plans, Pletcher said “We’ll probably skip the [Hal’s Hope on Feb. 24] and go to the race on March 31 [the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile.”