Mucho Macho Man’s Mucho Gusto Is Just That in ‘Rising Star’ Debut

[Wandering Eyes]

MUCHO GUSTO (c, 2, Mucho Macho Man–Itsagiantcauseway, by Giant’s Causeway) lived up to his name and then some with an ultra-impressive debut victory at Los Alamitos Thursday to become his freshman sire (by Macho Uno)’s fourth winner and first ‘TDN Rising Star.’ Hammered down to even-money favoritism, the $625,000 EASMAY buy broke on top from his rail draw and was just loping along under a motionless Joe Talamo as he clicked off a first quarter in :21.96. Still going easily as he registered a half-mile in :45.75, the chestnut was a bit wide turning for home and was confronted to his inside, but instantly powered clear of that rival when given the signal by Talamo and cruised clear to a decisive six-length score in 1:10.14. Vantastic (Dialed In) completed the exacta. Picked up for just $14,000 at Keeneland January, Mucho Gusto brought $95,000 in his next trip through the Keeneland ring that September. He RNA’d for $55,000 at the OBS March sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat over the synthetic and was sent through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale two months later, where he summoned $625,000 from Michael Lund Petersen after working a quarter-mile over a sloppy dirt track in an eye-catching

View the full article