Rain forces Mucho Macho Man out of Woodward

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Mucho Macho Man, third in the Whitney Handicap, has been scratched from Saturday's Woodward due to an off track.

Trained by Kathy Ritvo, Mucho Macho Man was withdrawn from the 1 1/8-mile Woodward after steady rain Saturday turned Saratoga's main track sloppy.

"It's a huge disappointment," said owner Patti Reeves. "We just don't want to risk running him on an off track."

Mucho Macho Man was eased in the Florida Sunshine Millions on Jan. 9 after failing to handle the sloppy Gulfstream Park track. He came down with a mild virus that kept him out of the Gulfstream Park Handicap, a race he won last year. He returned on June 14 at Belmont Park in the Criminal Type Stakes and finished third.

Mucho Macho Man, winner of six of his 21 career starts for $2,440,410, will now be pointed toward the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 28 at Belmont Park.

The original seven-horse Woodward field has now been reduced to five. Fort Larned was scratched on Thursday with a minor injury.