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Post by Evelyn on Feb 18, 2014 1:15:59 GMT -5
REMATCH IS ON: WILL TAKE CHARGE TO FACE MUCHO MACHO MAN IN BIG ‘CAP
Paulick Report
“We’re coming.”
With those words this morning from D. Wayne Lukas, the stage is set for one of the most eagerly anticipated rematches in recent memory, one between Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge in the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8.
The two handicap stars finished a scant nose apart in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last Nov. 2. The Lukas-trained Will Take Charge, Eclipse Award winner as outstanding 3-year-old of 2013, was second in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in his 2014 debut on Feb. 9.
With two-time Santa Anita Handicap winner and defending champion Game On Dude waiting in the wings for the mile and a quarter Big ‘Cap, story lines abound for the 77th edition of the historic race, which has been won by turf legends such as Seabiscuit, Noor, Round Table, Ack Ack, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Best Pal and Lava Man, among many others.
Mucho Macho Man, 14-length winner of the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18, committed to Santa Anita’s signature race on Saturday when trainer Kathy Ritvo and Finn Green, Racing Manager for owners Dean and Patti Reeves, announced they would be coming to Santa Anita for the Big ‘Cap.
Pending flight arrangements, Lukas said he hoped to ship Will Take Charge to California on “March 3 or 4.” Mucho Macho Man is scheduled to work Saturday in Florida and ship to California the following day, Sunday, Feb. 23.
Meanwhile, the countdown is on to March 8.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2014 2:03:31 GMT -5
march 8th? when did they switch the dates around? the big cap has always been the first weekend of march. now its the second?
making my prediction right now. if he runs, which he may not even be pointed towards it, fury kapcori beats all three of them wire to wire!! but he may not even be pointed towards the race. I don't know if they want to run him that far.
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Post by hesnotmypres on Feb 24, 2014 9:45:09 GMT -5
As per the Paulick Report.
Florida-based Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man stepped off a Bob Hubbard Horse Transportation Van in Santa Anita’s stable area at 5:15 p.m. PST on Sunday, in advance of a highly anticipated rematch with Classic runner-up Will Take Charge and Game On Dude in the 77th running of the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino at a mile and a quarter on March 8.
In one of the most thrilling stretch runs in Breeders’ Cup history, the Kathy Ritvo-trained Mucho Macho Man, with Gary Stevens up, prevailed by a scant nose over the fast finishing Will Take Charge and Luis Saez. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Will Take Charge went on to be voted the nation’s Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old for 2013.
In addition to last year’s Classic, “MMM” was an emphatic 4 1/4-length winner of Santa Anita’s Grade I, mile and one eighth Awesome Again Stakes Sept. 28, and he was second, beaten a half length, in the 2012 Classic at Santa Anita.
In his only start since the Classic win, “MMM” demolished a group of Florida-breds by 14 lengths in the mile and one eighth Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Jan. 18.
The 6-year-old horse by Macho Uno, who is owned by Dean and Patti Reeves, and Adena Springs, worked five furlongs in 1:02.56 Saturday at Gulfstream and will have one local breeze in advance of the Big ’Cap, according to Ritvo.
Managed by Reeves Racing’s Finn Green, Mucho Macho Man is in search of his fourth consecutive win and his 10th overall in what will be his 25th career start.
“Kathy (Ritvo) has done an unbelievable job with this horse and I want to thank her entire team, Dean, Patti and Finn, for allowing me to ride this horse and for bringing him here for what could be one of the greatest Big ‘’Caps of all time,” said Stevens, who is a four-time Big ’Cap winner. “It’s truly an honor to be involved in it.”
Following his heartbreak loss in the Classic, Will Take Charge defeated two-time Big ’Cap winner Game On Dude by a head in the Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, and “WTC” followed that with a second place finish as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Feb. 9.
“To have horses of the magnitude of Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and Game On Dude involved in the Big ’Cap this year is extraordinary,” said Tom Ludt, Senior Vice President, Racing & Gaming, Stronach Group. “The last time we had a rematch of this magnitude was in the 1988 Big ’Cap, when Ferdinand and Alysheba got together. When you consider that Game On Dude could be going for a record-breaking third win in the race—it’s just unbelievable. We want to thank all of those who have committed to running and those who are considering it. It’s going to be a terrific day.”
First post time on Santa Anita Handicap Day, Saturday, March 8, will be at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m. For more information or to make reservations, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
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Post by Evelyn on Feb 24, 2014 10:31:11 GMT -5
This year's race might just outdo '88! It's shaping up to be a great race!
White reminisces on, compares '88 Big 'Cap to upcoming edition
Brisnet
With Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge scheduled to clash in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8, Jon White points out the similarity to the 1988 renewal of the 1 1/4-mile event.
"The year before the '88 Big 'Cap, Ferdinand, at four an older horse, nosed out three-year-old Alysheba in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Hollywood Park," White said. "And then they had a rematch in the Big 'Cap.
"Similarly, in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year here at Santa Anita, Mucho Macho Man, an older horse (five), won by a nose over Will Take Charge, a three-year-old. And now they are scheduled to have a rematch in this year's Big 'Cap."
At the time of the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic, White was the chart-caller at the Southern California tracks for the Daily Racing Form. Consequently, he called the official chart for the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic.
"That '87 Classic really was a Classic," recalled White, who these days makes the morning-line at Santa Anita and provides pre-race television commentary for the track's simulcast network. "It was a showdown between two Kentucky Derby winners, with the Horse of the Year title on the line. And the ride (Bill) Shoemaker gave Ferdinand that day was one of the greatest I ever saw.
"At that time, Shoe's riding career was winding down. He knew that he wouldn't be riding all that much longer and that Ferdinand might well be the best chance and possibly last chance he would ever have to ride a Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Up to that time, Shoe had never won a Breeders' Cup race.
"If all of that wasn't enough pressure on Shoemaker, riding Ferdinand was not easy. Ferdinand was a colt who had a tendency to pull himself up once he got in front. Let me tell you, Shoemaker's patience that afternoon was truly remarkable considering all that was at stake."
This was what White wrote of the victorious Ferdinand in the chart for the 1987 Classic: "Ferdinand, within easy striking distance early while being patiently handled, moved up when used slightly nearing the far turn to avoid being boxed in, forced the issue on the far turn and in the upper stretch with the rider waiting as long as possible to ask his mount to go for the lead, responded willingly when asked to get a short lead leaving the sixteenth marker, then held on to prevail by a slim margin in an extremely game effort."
"Shoemaker showed once again that he had ice water in his veins in an important race the way he sat, sat, sat from the top of the stretch until he got near the sixteenth-pole," White said. "Once he got near the sixteenth-pole, he finally pushed the button, and Ferdinand went by Judge Angelucci to get the lead. (Charlie) Whittingham trained both Ferdinand and Judge Angelucci. Alysheba, who was far back early, rocketed home under Chris McCarron. But Ferdinand, thanks in large part to an absolutely perfect ride by Shoemaker, won by a nose."
It turned out to be Shoemaker's only Breeders' Cup victory. As for Ferdinand, he was voted 1987 Eclipse Awards as champion older horse and Horse of the Year. Alysheba also was voted a 1987 Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old colt. The following March 6, they had their rematch in the Big 'Cap, with 70,432 in attendance.
In the wagering for the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic, Ferdinand had been sent off as the even-money favorite, with Alysheba the 7-2 second choice. For their rematch in the Big 'Cap, Alysheba was the even-money favorite, with Ferdinand the 8-5 second choice.
"Alysheba raced a lot closer early in the Big 'Cap than in the Classic," noted White, who also called the official chart of the 1988 Santa Anita Handicap. "Only four horses started in the Big 'Cap that year. Alysheba was third early, a couple of lengths or so in front of Ferdinand. Alysheba rushed to the front approaching the three-eighths pole. And right behind him, Ferdinand and Shoe also moved with a rush.
"All the way around the far turn, Alysheba had a short lead while being challenged by Ferdinand. The crowd went bonkers. Alysheba increased his lead to a length at the eighth-pole. Ferdinand kept trying all the way to the end, but he never could get on even terms with, let alone by, Alysheba."
The record shows that Alysheba won that thrilling 1988 Big 'Cap by a half-length over Ferdinand. Alysheba would go on to be voted 1988 Eclipse Awards as champion older horse and Horse of the Year.
"There's no doubt about it, the '88 Big 'Cap sure was a great race at The Great Race Place," White said.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 2, 2014 13:01:34 GMT -5
Mucho Macho Man ranks as Big 'Cap highweight with 124 pounds
Brisnet
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man has been assigned top weight of 124 pounds for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, with Classic runner-up and Eclipse champion Will Take Charge assigned second-high weight of 123 pounds. Two-time Big 'Cap winner Game On Dude has been assigned 122.
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Stronach Stables, Mucho Macho Man, a six-year-old horse by Macho Uno, is trained by Kathy Ritvo. A dazzling 14-length winner versus Florida-breds in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Jan. 18, "MMM" seeks his 10th win in what will be his 25th career start. He has earnings of $5,580,410.
Voted America's top three-year-old in 2013, Will Take Charge was beaten a scant nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic November 2, and followed that with a game head victory over two-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs November 29, and was second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in his most recent start, the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on February 9.
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, "WTC," a four-year-old colt by Unbridled's Song, is owned by Willis D. Horton and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC. With $3,155,148 in earnings, he has six wins and four seconds from 16 lifetime starts.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Game On Dude, a record-breaking 7 3/4 length winner of last year's Big 'Cap, seeks to become the first three-time winner in the 77-year history of America's longest continually run hundred grander.
Owned by Joe Torre's Diamond Pride, LLC, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, LLC and Bernard Schiappa, Game On Dude, a seven-year-old Awesome Again gelding, has 15 wins, six seconds and one third place finish from 30 starts. He has earnings of $5,713,893.
With 16 nominations, the weights and trainers for the Santa Anita Handicap are as follows:
Mucho Macho Man 124 Kathy Ritvo
Will Take Charge 123 D. Wayne Lukas
Game on Dude 122 Bob Baffert
Blingo 117 John Shirreffs
Blueskiesnrainbows 117 Jerry Hollendorfer
Fury Kapcori 115 Jerry Hollendorfer
Govenor Charlie 115 Bob Baffert
Long River 115 Kiaran McLaughlin
American Blend 114 Carla Gaines
Appealing Tale 114 Peter Miller
Clubhouse Ride 114 Craig Lewis
Hear the Ghost 114 Jerry Hollendorfer
Imperative 114 George Papaprodromou
Majestic Harbor 114 Sean McCarthy
Rousing Sermon 114 Jerry Hollendorfer
Setsuko 114 Richard Mandella
Entries for the Santa Anita Handicap will be taken Wednesday. First post time on Big 'Cap Day will be at noon (PST). Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2014 13:13:43 GMT -5
fury kapcori-115? bye bye boys!!!
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 4, 2014 1:03:52 GMT -5
The Big Cap, Race of the year
The Saratogian
By Jeff Scott
How accomplished is the likely field for Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap? Consider this: of the last 11 handicap-division Grade 1s run at better than a mile, six were won by horses expected for this race: Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and Game On Dude. Unless an almost inconceivable upset occurs, by Saturday evening the three will have won seven of the last 12 of these races and increased their combined earnings to more than $15 million.
What makes this year’s Big Cap even more anticipated is that two of these horses are in the best form of their career. Mucho Macho Man followed his victories in the Awesome Again Stakes and BC Classic (both at Santa Anita) with a 14-length romp in the Sunshine Millions Classic. Reigning 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge has finished first or a close second in six straight major races, including wins in the Travers and Clark Handicap and a heartbreaking nose loss in the Classic.
Game On Dude is the X-factor in the race. The 7-year-old gelding has more Grade 1 victories (seven) and total graded wins (13) than the rest of the probable field combined, and is 7-for-10 lifetime at Santa Anita. Game On Dude is coming off up-the-track finishes in two of his last three starts, however, and if he is to continue to be considered among the division’s elite, he needs to run a big one on Saturday.
Other probable starters, according to Daily Racing Form, include American Blend, Appealing Tale, Blingo, Imperative, Majestic Harbor and Rousing Sermon.
It has been a while since the Santa Anita Handicap attracted a field of this caliber, but then the handicap division has lacked the quality and depth that existed during the Big Cap’s heyday between the late 70s and early 90s. It wasn’t just the fact that the race was won by future Hall of Famers Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry (twice) and Alysheba during a 10-year period. It’s also that the beaten horses included the likes of Exceller, Flying Paster, Perrault, Ancient Title, Greinton, Ferdinand, Criminal Type and Pleasant Tap.
Highlights from the past two decades include Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella running 1-2-3 in the 1997 Big Cap with his South American monsters Siphon, Sandpit and Gentlemen. Two years later, Free House and Silver Charm faced each other for the eighth and final time, with Free House prevailing by a half-length over Event of the Year and Silver Charm finishing another half-length back.
Arguably the best Santa Anita Handicap field assembled since the turn of the century came in 2003, when repeat winner Milwaukee Brew defeated a group that included Pleasantly Perfect and Congaree. Between them, these three stalwarts won 21 graded races and banked nearly $14 million.
As always, the main hope is for a good and safe race on Saturday. Looking beyond, maybe we’ll get to see Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and possibly Game On Dude meet again a couple of times before the Breeders’ Cup — say, in the Stephen Foster, Whitney and/or Jockey Club Gold Cup. The best way to build interest in the handicap division is for the best horses to face each other more often on the track.
QUICK CALL TURNS 30
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2014 2:34:01 GMT -5
of course its the race of the year. and do you know why? because it is at santa anita and has prestige, not just a bloated purse!! in fact the purse hasn't gone up, but actually down on this race in recent years because of lack of casino money like other tracks. but yet, here they are, all the top horses. and why? because its not snowing and the race actually means something. its not just another run of the mill 500k or 1 million dollar purse being offered up by some otherwise run down, past its prime, casino aided rat trap track that just happens to have extra money sitting around because they sold their souls to the devil. yes santa anita has struggled with small fields in their daily races because the purse money isn't there like it is at these other tracks. but when it comes to the big races and when the money is available, you see where the big names want to be. and its not in new York running in 10 below weather with a blizzard on the forecast!! #bigcaprules#bitemeny!!
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Post by shooter29 on Mar 8, 2014 19:19:34 GMT -5
of course its the race of the year. and do you know why? because it is at santa anita and has prestige, not just a bloated purse!! in fact the purse hasn't gone up, but actually down on this race in recent years because of lack of casino money like other tracks. but yet, here they are, all the top horses. and why? because its not snowing and the race actually means something. its not just another run of the mill 500k or 1 million dollar purse being offered up by some otherwise run down, past its prime, casino aided rat trap track that just happens to have extra money sitting around because they sold their souls to the devil. yes santa anita has struggled with small fields in their daily races because the purse money isn't there like it is at these other tracks. but when it comes to the big races and when the money is available, you see where the big names want to be. and its not in new York running in 10 below weather with a blizzard on the forecast!! #bigcaprules#bitemeny!! Tell us what you really think Wiz! It is a great field Ev. Blingo could pull the upset. |
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Post by Evelyn on Mar 9, 2014 12:17:01 GMT -5
I'm ignoring Wiz's silly post. The race was a good one because of the shippers LOL I gave Dude credit in another thread for a very good, historical win. And no, I don't think there was a speed bias although I'm guessing many will make that argument. Dude simply outran them.
Game On Dude Captures Record Third Big 'Cap
By Jack Shinar
Bloodhorse
Experts thought Game On Dude had lost a step, but the gallant old gelding proved them wrong with a history-making third victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 8 at Santa Anita Park (VIDEO).
Under Mike Smith, Game On Dude was on the lead from the start of the 1 1/4-mile race at odds of 7-2, holding 2013 sophomore male champion Will Take Charge at bay through the stretch drive to win by 1 3/4 lengths. It was eight lengths back to third-place finisher Blingo as 6-5 favorite Mucho Macho Man faded to finish out of the money.
On a picture-perfect day at Santa Anita, Game On Dude gave a special effort. His final time of 1:58.17 broke the stakes record of 1:58.60 established by Affirmed in 1979, but was slightly off the track mark of 1:57.80 set by Spectacular Bid in the 1980 Charles H. Strub (gr. I).
Seven-year-old Game On Dude came into the race tied with John Henry, Milwaukee Brew, and Lava Man as the only two-time winners of the Big 'Cap.
Bob Baffert, who trains Game On Dude for Joe Torre's Diamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernie Schiappa, won the Santa Anita Handicap for the fifth time. Game On Dude, a son of Awesome Again out of the Devil His due mare Worldly Pleasure, was bred in Kentucky by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs.
"I was in awe," Baffert said. "I became a fan at the eighth pole. I just sat there and listened to the crowd cheering and watching 'The Dude' do his thing. He was smoking."
Winning for the 16th time from a 31-race career, Game On Dude paid $9.60, $3.60, and $3.60. Will Take Charge returned $3 and $2.60 and completed a $29.20 exacta, with Blingo paying $5.40 to show. Game On Dude received a rousing ovation from the crowd of 27,121 as he returned to the winner's circle following the race.
"When he gets in that groove, nobody can beat him" Baffert said.
Game On Dude atoned for a fifth-place finish in the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) to open the 2014 season Feb. 8, and also avenged his ninth-place finish as the favorite behind Mucho Macho Man in last fall's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
This year's much-anticipated Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) brought back Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge, who were separated by a nose in the 2013 BC Classic, and gave Game On Dude a chance to redeem his Clark Handicap (gr. I) loss by a head to Will Take Charge late last year. Mucho Macho Man, whose only start since the Breeders' Cup produced a 14-length verdict in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park Jan. 18, was made the favorite over last year's 3-year-old champion and multiple grade I winner Will Take Charge.
With those two in there, 'Dude' was almost an afterthought in this year's eight-horse field in spite of his Big 'Cap triumphs in 2011 and 2013. But the big dark bay had been working superbly coming into the race after his disappointing San Antonio effort in which he was cooked in a pace duel. His recent drills included a bullet seven-furlong move in 1:25 4/5 over the track Feb. 26.
Smith knew warming him up before the race that Game On Dude was going to be tough to beat, saying, "He was on his toes today, he was on fire.
"I knew they would have to better than him today to beat him. Like I've said before, when he shows up he can run with anybody in the world. We may throw a dud every now and then but then he makes up for it."
Breaking from post 7, Game On Dude cleared the field and was able to angle over to the inside coming through the stretch the first time as only Hear the Ghost from the far outside challenged him for the early lead. Hear the Ghost, last year's San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) winner, led by a head through the opening quarter mile (:22.91) before Game On Dude asserted his control for Smith by 2 1/2 lengths up the backstretch. Game On Dude clipped off a half mile in a snappy :45.39 and six furlongs in 1:09.39.
Mucho Macho Man, advancing into second up the backside for Gary Stevens, launched an early bid into the far turn as 3-2 second choice Will Take Charge and Luis Saez followed them closely on the outside. But Game On Dude answered the challenge, reaching the quarter pole in an eye-catching 1:32.57 and still maintaining a 1 1/2-length advantage.
"When they came at me he dropped to the ground." Smith said. "When he needs to, he fires."
Coming off the rail a bit in the stretch, Game On Dude dug in as Will Take Charge put his head in front of the weakening Mucho Macho Man. But Game On Dude was resolute over the willing Will Take Charge, who was urged on by Saez but unable to make an impact on the winner in the final furlong.
"He ran so hard," said Saez of Will Take Charge. "He's very good and was in good position all the way."
Stevens said Mucho Macho Man was in good shape heading into the turn but he realized soon after that this wasn't going to be his day. "The race really started at the half-mile pole when Luis engaged me and I couldn't go with him. I was basically empty at the three-eighths pole. That's a bad feeling in a race like this."
Blingo, rallying belatedly for Aaron Gryder, edged Mucho Macho Man for third by three-quarters of a length. Hear the Ghost, Rousing Sermon, Imperative, and American Blend followed.
Winning his eighth grade I race, Game On Dude increased his lifetime earnings to $6,163,893.
The last time Game on Dude was not favored in a race was the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), a span of 16 straight races. He posted his eighth lifetime win at Santa Anita from 11 starts on his home track.
After such a milestone victory, what could be left, another shot at the Breeders' Cup Classic, in which Game On Dude has been defeated three previous tries.
"Yes, fourth time's the charm," said co-owner Schiappa.
"Bernie's in charge of dreaming," Baffert laughed.
"To me, it's an emotional win for the horse," the Hall of Fame trainer added. "It kills me when they knock on him, but we came in here quiet and that's the way I like to come in."
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