Gelding is six years old Mucho Del Oro made front running an expected feature of his races. So even though I left Santa Anita Park gate was the seventh choice in the Daytona Stakes (G3T) on May 26, a wire-to-wire win for him would not be surprising.
“We clearly saw this horse had a pattern, he wanted to lead and continue to do so,” jockey Kyle Frey said. “I’m just trying to find easier fractions; don’t understand it yet but it still works.”
The son of Mucho Macho Man quickly moved forward and appeared to make no effort to maintain his position. And as the field crossed the paddock and down the stretch, Mucho Del Oro began to extend his lead to four lengths before a fierce but late rally by Peace first close that margin to half its length.
He stops the clock at 1:11.37 with the fractions being: 21.87, :43.54 and 1:05.41.
Trainer Doug O’Neill’s race manager, Steve Rothblum, said, “My concern was getting over the dirt track because he had missed it before. So when he hit his stride on the dirt and off the engine, it’s a really great feeling.”
Owned by Purple Rein Racing, Mucho Del Oro improved to 10-2-0 in 19 starts. He is 2-1-0 in four starts this year.
Almendares ranked third and Johnny Podres Wednesday. A $2 winning bet pays out $24.80.
Videotapes: Daytona S. (G3T)
