Mucho Macho Man Wins in Florida

Mucho Macho Man has done something in 2012 that he could not do in three Triple Crown races last year -- win.

The thoroughbred owned by Dean and Patti Reeves of Suwanee won by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday in the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Jockey Ron Dominguez rode the Kathy Ritvo-trained horse.

“It was the absolute perfect trip.  We were right outside the speed.  He handled himself so well.  He gave me the feeling every step of the way that whenever I was ready to ask, he was ready to go,” Dominguez said in a report on Gulfstream Park's website. “He gave me so much confidence.  I was just a passenger today.”

Mucho Macho Man ran the 1 1/8 miles of the Classic in a strong 1:47.91, less than a half of a second off the stakes record set (1:47.49) by Quality Road in 2010. 

"3M" finished third in the Kentucky Derby last year, sixth in the Preakness Stakes and seventh in the Belmont Stakes.

Ritvo has no plans for Mucho Macho Man’s next race.