Thunder Chuck Stretches Out for Mucho Macho Man

[Wandering Eyes]

Lea Farms' Thunder Chuck (Good Magic) will make his first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs when he goes postward in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Trainer Jorge Delgado said he is hoping the race is a first step towards a possible trip on the Triple Crown trail for the chestnut gelding.

“We're trying to see how far we can get with him. Hopefully, this will be a step to the graded stakes on the route to the Derby,” Delgado said. “The horse has been good in his training. We're expecting a good performance from him.”

A maiden winner going five furlongs at Monmouth Park in June, Thunder Chuck was fourth in the Aug. 2 GII Saratoga Special and was second in the Nov. 22 Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream last time out.

“He definitely left a good impression last time when he broke from the number one post position and was stuck on the rail for most of the race, and he managed to finish second to a very good horse,” Delgado said. “With more experience, we're hoping he'll run well with a good trip.”

Delgado is confident that the one-turn mile will be within Thunder Chuck's scope in the Mucho Macho Man, for which he will break from the far-outside number nine post position under David Egan.

“He has shown in his breezes that he won't have a problem going the distance. His post position is beautiful, thankfully. We have our jockey on the horse and the horse is feeling good,” Delgado said. “I think we'll bring something to the table Saturday.”

Also looking to earn a spot on the Triple Crown trail in the Mucho Macho Man Saturday is Baron Thoroughbreds' homebred Tripp's Promise (Promises Fulfilled).

“He's a good athlete and a smart horse,” trainer Dale Romans said. “We'll see how high up the ladder he can climb.”

A debut winner going 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill in September, the bay colt was second and third in a pair of one mile and 40 yard allowance contests in Louisville in October and November, respectively.

“The last two races were good. He settled in and came running,” Romans said. “To me, this race sets up well. It looks like there's a lot of speed, if it materializes.”

Romans also trained Tripp's Promise's sire, who was a front-running winner of the 2018 Fountain of Youth and went on to become a multiple Grade I-winning sprinter.

“His father was lightning fast and he comes from off the pace,” Romans said. “But he shows what a solid sire his father has been for the little numbers he's had. He's been a really good sire, but there aren't a lot of similarities between the two.”

Jose D'Angelo will saddle P and G Stable's Cabourg (Munnings) in the Mucho Macho Man. A first-out winner at Churchill in September, the chestnut colt missed by just a neck when second over the same track and distance he will face Saturday.

“He always showed talent. That's why I brought him to Kentucky first time out and he won the race,” D'Angelo said. “His last race, he broke too sharp from the gate and he just wanted to go, go, go and never relaxed. In his last workout, I put horses in front of him to get him to relax, like he did the first time out.”

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the Mucho Macho Man following a 5 1/4-length maiden win at Churchill Downs Nov. 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

The Mucho Macho Man is the first local step towards the GI Curlin Florida Derby to be contested at Gulfstream Mar. 28. It will be followed by the 1 1/16-mile GIII Holy Bull Stakes Jan. 31 and the 1 1/8-mile GII Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 28.

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