Bluegrass Singer goes wire to wire in winning Mucho Macho Man

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Bluegrass Singer, ridden by Javier Castellano, jumped out to the early lead and never looked back to capture Saturday's $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Nine 3-year-olds started the one-turn mile stakes, formerly the Gulfstream Park Derby. Mawthooq, starting from the far outside post, was the 13-10 favorite and Bluegrass Singer, breaking from post 3, the 2-1 second choice.

Trained by Marcus Vitali, Bluegrass Singer was ridden for the first time by Castellano, but exhibited the same front-running style that propelled him to victory on Dec. 17 at Gulfstream in a mile allowance race.

"Javier said he was going to place him forwardly. It looks like he broke a little awkward. He ducked in a little bit," Vitali said.

Mawthooq pressed the leader from the outside, but faded down the stretch. Bluegrass Singer hit the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 13-1 longshot Ami's Flatter with Mawthooq third.

"He didn't break sharp out of the gate but actually he put me in a good spot right away and dictated the pace all the way in the race," Castellano said. "It was very impressive. He went really fast in the beginning, but the way he did it in the last part and kept going and kept digging all the way to the end, I'm very impressed."

Twotwentyfive A was fourth followed by Juan and Bina, Brother Bobo, A. Rod Again, Dekabrist and Honest.

The time for the Mucho Macho Man was 1:35.83 on a fast track.

Owned by Crossed Sabres Farm, Bluegrass Singer had been cross entered in the Spectacular Bid Stakes on Gulfstream's Saturday card. The gray gelding posted his first stakes victory and added $60,000 to his bankroll. The 3-year-old has won three of seven starts for $120,315.

"We had some issues with him that made me feel it was necessary to geld him," noted Vitali. "I like to keep them all colts if I can. But we're in the racing game, not the hoping game. He's matured; he's blossomed.

"We're bringing him up slow to the two turns. We're trying to prepare him properly, if he is what we think. If not, we're having a lot of fun right now. He's a good horse; he's doing everything right. Time will tell. Everything's a possibility."

Bluegrass Singer paid $6.40, $3.80 and $2.60. Ami's Flatter returned $9.00 and $5.80, and Mawthooq paid $2.80 to show.