Thunder Chuck Faces Pivotal Test in Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man

Thunder Chuck Faces Pivotal Test in Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Jorge Delgado is viewing Saturday’s $175,000 Mucho Macho Man as a pivotal test for Lea Farms LLC’s Thunder Chuck.

The one-turn mile stakes for 3-year-olds will provide the son of Good Magic the opportunity to prove that he is much more than a very talented sprinter.

“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.”

The Mucho Macho Man, which will co-headline Saturday’s 11 race program with the $175,000 Ginger Brew, is the first step on the Road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), the 1 1/8-mile premier prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1) to be contested at Gulfstream March 28. The Mucho Macho Man will be followed by the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) Jan. 31 and the 1 1/8-mile $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 28.

Thunder Chuck is coming off a second-place finish behind 4-5 favorite Hammond in the 6 ½-furlong Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream Park Nov. 22.

“He definitely left a good last time when he broke from the No. 1 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 No. 9 post position under David Egan.

“He has shown in his breezes that he won’t have a problem going the distance. His post position in 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.”

Barron Thoroughbreds LLC’s Tripp’s Promise has shown trainer Dale Romans a lot of promise in the three-race experience he’ll bring into the Mucho Macho Man.

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

Tripp’s Promise won at first asking Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs, where he rallied from off the pace to score a neck victory in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight event.

“I knew he’d run good, but first-timers aren’t my gig,” Romans said. “When wins for me first time, they’ve pretty much done it on their own.”

The son of Promises Fulfilled came back to finish second and third in a pair of one-turn mile optional claiming allowances at Churchill.

“The last two races were good. He settled in and come 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 who became a multiple Grade 1 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.”

Corey Lanerie has the return mount for the Mucho Macho Man.

Warthan Racing’s Commandment earned the 7-5 morning-line favorite’s roll for the Mucho Macho Man with a commanding 5 ¼-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight event Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. The son of Into Mischief got away from the starting gate a step slowly before saving ground while advancing into contention on the turn into the stretch. The Brad Cox trainee split the pacemakers at the top of the stretch and drew off to graduate in his second career start.

Commandment obviously gained valuable education in his Oct. 4 debut at Keeneland, where he fell back early before making a five-wide sweep to close from 11th to fourth in a six-furlong maiden special weight race.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride Commandment for the first time Saturday.

P & G Stables LLC’s Cabourg will make his second start at a one-turn mile Saturday. The Jose D’Angelo-trained son of Munnings came up a neck short of a front-running victory in his most recent outing at Gulfstream. He won at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special weight Sept. 12 at Churchill, where he showed speed before faltering to finish fourth.

“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.”

Junior Alvarado has the mount Saturday.

Black Type Thoroughbreds and partners’ Epic Summer will make his stakes debut Saturday while coming off an impressive debut victory Oct. 25 at Aqueduct. The gelded son of Vekoma withstood early pressure in the six-furlong maiden special weight test before drawing off to win by 3 ¼ lengths.

Tyler Gaffalione will ride the George Weaver trainee for the first time in the Mucho Macho Man.

LBR Racing Stable and Michael Schmidt’s Max Capacity, Kyle Christian Bennett’s Blame Yasself, Smith Ranch Stables’ Roger That Dana, and Bella Mia Stables LLC’s Mr. Hooligan round out the field.