Mucho Macho Man won the $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, beating Ron the Greek by 1-1/2 lengths.
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez and trained by Kathy Ritvo, Mucho Macho Man ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 47.91 seconds and paid $6.20 for a $2 win bet. One of only three horses to race in all the three legs of the Triple Crown last year, Mucho Macho Man made was making his 2012 debut in the finale of the six stakes for Florida-bred thoroughbreds.
''It was the absolute perfect trip,'' Dominguez said. ''We were right on the outside of 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.
"He gave me so much confidence. I was just a passenger today. You can really tell how much he's grown up since I rode him in the Belmont. Back then, he was just a big skinny horse that had a lot of maturing to do. Now he looks like he's grown up and has everything figured out.''
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team Racing, Mucho Macho Man had a long break after he finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes. He was third in the Kentucky Derby.
Ritvo has no set plan for Mucho Macho Man's next race.
''We'll see how he comes out of it and then start to look for another race for him,'' she said.
Turbo Compressor was third.
In the $300,000 Distaff, Awesome Feather beat Delightful Mary by 5-3/4 lengths for her ninth victory in nine starts, running 1-1/8 miles in 1:49.17.
''She trained great for the race, but you just don't know until you can run them,'' trainer Chad Brown said. ''She's just a real pro.''
Ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner paid $3.60.
''I have so much confidence in her,'' said Sanchez, aboard Awesome Feather for all nine of her victories. ''She's just so special to me. She's the best horse I've ever ridden. She's the best filly in the world.''
