Mucho Macho Man gets a big 7f Workout

[TJ]

Read the article. TJ
http://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby- ... ill-sunday

[Whirlaway]

He looks good, not an ounce of fat on this one - he will be dangerous. Could it be we will have the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby?

Now I'm no trainer but I think the 1:23.66 a little fast considering Sway Away ran the same work prior to the Rebel and he ran flat - of course he did KO a few teeth in the gate. I'd like to have seen a time between 1:25 and 1:27 leaving some fuel in the tank for the big dance; that 83 is racing speed, might take away his edge. What will she do between now and race day, run five furlongs in 57, or run four furlongs in 48 . . .

[TJ]

He looks good, not an ounce of fat on this one - he will be dangerous. Could it be we will have the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby?

Now I'm no trainer but I think the 1:23.66 a little fast considering Sway Away ran the same work prior to the Rebel and he ran flat - of course he did KO a few teeth in the gate. I'd like to have seen a time between 1:25 and 1:27 leaving some fuel in the tank for the big dance; that 83 is racing speed, might take away his edge. What will she do between now and race day, run five furlongs in 57, or run four furlongs in 48 . . .

Hi Whirl,
Kathy Ritvo comes from a family of horseman......she know's what to do with her horses....in her word's, “I worked him seven furlongs today because it’s going to be six weeks between his last start in the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby. He needed something like that this morning.” Not to mention it's always good to put your horse on the van tired after a good work, less chance of getting silly on the trip. She's a woman who's been through a lot in her life and deserves this opportunity. If all goes well and MMM get's to the Derby you will be hearing a lot about how she got there, good article below.....also take note how big MMM is, he's near 17 hands. TJ

http://www.drf.com/news/kathy-ritvo-tough-they-come

[Whirlaway]

Good read.

I've always liked seven furlong works because when run at the right time and at the right speed, those long works mean business. In the context of what she said, I think the work was just what the horse needed - he should be dead fit and ready to run come Derby day. It'll be interesting to see what she does with him from here on out. I like what I read about this woman and her personal and physical constitution - in some ways most of us don't understand - it seems like this race has her name written on it.

I've always thought this horse a good one . . . I'll be keepin' an eye on him.

[TJ]

Good read.

I've always liked seven furlong works because when run at the right time and at the right speed, those long works mean business. In the context of what she said, I think the work was just what the horse needed - he should be dead fit and ready to run come Derby day. It'll be interesting to see what she does with him from here on out. I like what I read about this woman and her personal and physical constitution - in some ways most of us don't understand - it seems like this race has her name written on it.

I've always thought this horse a good one . . . I'll be keepin' an eye on him.

Hi Whirl,
H. Allen Jerken's, alias 'The Chief" can tell you about 7/8ths works. When he went 7/8ths with one he meant business. I'm of the opinion only one person can train a horse and there's more to it than one's ego.....interference by other's who aren't hands on be it owner's, stable manager's etc. will only cause a problem in the long run. It takes the trainer's head out of the game and his/her eye off the ball so to speak, horses are changing all the time and with these changes it sometimes brings race and training schedule changes to keep your horse where you need him to be......nothing should be cut in stone and you have to be able to call an audible when necessary.....unless you believe in the cookie cutter method of training? There are subtle things that go on during the day that lets you know if you are making the right call for your horse. The Derby is no easy race to win and there are ups and downs along the way (as we are seeing more so this season)....no two horses can be brought into the Derby the same way, with the same works or gallops leading into the race. Each horse is an individual and has his way of arriving fit and ready for the Derby....where just enough was taken out of him for a forward move, yet not too much where he will come up empty.....this is the job of a trainer and you have to be a good one to understand this and win the Derby. Mucho Macho Man is being handled and prepared very well by Kathy Ritvo and she know's, as well as anyone, how to get her big boy ready. She also know's how hard it is to get there with your horse sitting on ready. Her personal life reminds her how fragile life is, so she doesn't take anything for granted......in that recent van fire one of the horses that died belonged to the owner of Mucho Macho Man. I hope she brings her horse over there 100% the way she wants him to be, at which point she will have a real Derby contender......let's not forget, the race will come up with a lot of speed if all return for the Roses.....just the way Archarcharch's race shaped up......notice everyone in that race made a run. I think this could put MMM in a garden spot (middle speed).....similar to the way Super Saver (who had natural speed) became middle speed in winning last season's Derby beating the dead closer's to the punch. Mucho's a big good looking horse with a big stride, http://reevestr.com/wordpress/wp-conten ... CN4833.jpg and one of the things I remembered Kathy saying about this horse is he needs two turns and clear sailing turning for home. As big and strong as he is he can also be taken back without "flipping his palate":>), but the way the race is shaping up he could be laying off the pace anyway and fall into it the way SS did. We also have a couple disappointing races by certain contender's.....this by no means spells defeat for them, horses bounce back stronger off a losing race then they do off a winning race. I've yet to see MMM not show up when he went to the post as other's have.....bad luck, yes, but he never throw's in the towel. The only bad news is he didn't train at Palm Meadows:>).....but the good news is they are taking him to Kentucky with time enough to get two works over the track, get acclimated and used to his new surroundings, but best of all....have a fresh and fit horse going into the Derby....I really like how she's bringing him into the Derby. TJ

[oliverstoned]

The fast 7f work doesn't bother me at all, the Derby is still a long way off, in fact if he ran in the Derby Trial a week before the race I'd bet him even more. As it is he is one I'll be watching the next 3 weeks and more than likely I will be using him in my exotics (with him on top in a few).

[Whirlaway]

I got a chance to meet Mr. Jerkens some years back down at Calder Racecourse and it certainly was a pleasure to meet one of the Great Ones. The Giant Killer was running a horse called Medallist in one of those $100k races. Medallist came into that race off a layoff and he showed a 7fl work under him, he won the race at 9/1. I didn’t realize the import of those longs works back then, I do now.
~
I agree, let the trainers train, but not all trainers are good trainers.
~
From what I've read, in 2000 14 of the 19 horses entered in the Derby had recorded a Beyer figure of 100+. In 2008 there were seven, in 2009 there were five, last year there were three and this year? Most think this is a good group, but not so. Picking a winner from this lot will not be an easy task. I agree w/you the horse to win this thing will be sittin’ in the g spot, maybe two or three wide, and likely five or six lengths from the lead. I’ll be looking for a favorable post position w/a conditioning edge – a long sharp workout.

Looking forward to the past performances.

[TJ]

I got a chance to meet Mr. Jerkens some years back down at Calder Racecourse and it certainly was a pleasure to meet one of the Great Ones. The Giant Killer was running a horse called Medallist in one of those $100k races. Medallist came into that race off a layoff and he showed a 7fl work under him, he won the race at 9/1. I didn’t realize the import of those longs works back then, I do now.
~
I agree, let the trainers train, but not all trainers are good trainers.
~
From what I've read, in 2000 14 of the 19 horses entered in the Derby had recorded a Beyer figure of 100+. In 2008 there were seven, in 2009 there were five, last year there were three and this year? Most think this is a good group, but not so. Picking a winner from this lot will not be an easy task. I agree w/you the horse to win this thing will be sittin’ in the g spot, maybe two or three wide, and likely five or six lengths from the lead. I’ll be looking for a favorable post position w/a conditioning edge – a long sharp workout.

Looking forward to the past performances.

Hi Whirl,
This is where knowing trainer's gives you an edge....Jerken's sending one 7/8ths means something....other trainer's could squeeze the lemon going 7/8ths and have nothing left for the race. This is the difference between trainer's.....when you work one 7/8ths you better know your horse is able to handle it.....or there will be enough time to recover after a serious move like that. Some trainer's do the monkey see monkey do style, but what they aren't aware of is the way they are trained into a 7/8ths work.....the daily galloping into a strong work is far more important than the work itself. Seems this Derby may just come down to the trainer who has the best handle on their horse.....this years Derby will be a great exercise in handicapping both horse and trainer's:>) TJ