Gusto is Mucho Fast and Wins Pegasus World Cup Invitational

Pegasus Day Beyer Figures from Winners – courtesy Daily Racing Form

Mucho Gusto 107

Zulu Alpha 105

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Spooky Channel 96

Benefiting from a dream trip covered up just off the pace, MUCHO GUSTO darted away to an easy win in the 4th Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) for owner Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and trainer Bob Baffert.

The son of Mucho Macho Man – Itsagiantcauseway by Giant’s Causeway, racing for the first time as a 4-year-old, had not raced since September when fourth in the Oklahoma Derby but he won three Grade 3 stakes as a sophomore last year. Well managed by Baffert who steered the $625,000 Two-Year-Old in Training clear of the Kentucky Derby and other major races for part of the season, Mucho Gusto did finish second in the Haskell and third in the Travers Stakes, both Grade 1s.

Shipping in from California, Mucho Gusto’s connections had no problem with the two big ones that were scratched from the race; Omaha Beach and Spun to Run could not race in the 1 1/8 mile event due to ailments. Omaha Beach is now retired to stud. Still, Mucho Gusto was 3 to 1 behind favourite Higher Power.

Those are the most exciting ones, when you don’t expect it,” said Baffert by phone from California.

Mucho Gusto, who was saddled by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, broke alertly and showed the way into the backstretch before Mr Freeze made a three-wide sweep to the lead at the top of the backstretch under Luis Saez. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rated Mucho Gusto behind Mr. Freeze, who cut fractions of 23.77 and 47.78 seconds for the first half-mile under pressure from Bodexpress while showing the way into the far turn. Higher Power, the 5-2 favorite ridden by Flavien Prat, joined the fray briefly but came up empty as Mucho Gusto was eased to the outside on the turn into the stretch. The 4-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man quickly advanced three-wide on Mr Freeze and Bodexpress to take the lead at the top of the stretch, drawing away to a 4 ½ -length victory.

“I had a great trip. He got a great start and felt good. He relaxed so well and we were able to save ground,” said Ortiz, the two-time defending Eclipse champion who rode Mucho Gusto for the first time Saturday. “At the three-eighths pole I tipped him out and he took off. He was much the best. I think he just took off and opened up easy. He’s a nice horse.”

Mr Freeze held gamely to finish second three-quarters of a length ahead of late-rallying War Story and jockey Joel Rosario, who finished another three-quarters of a length ahead of Diamond Oops and Julien Leparoux. Pacific Classic (G1) winner Higher Power faded to last in a field of 10.

Mucho Gusto ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85 while winning for the fifth time in 11 career starts.

“He has a lot of speed but the key was to get a good break and get over right away. And I just left it up to him (Irad), just keep him in the clear,” Baffert said. “When he was down inside I thought, ‘I hope he knows what he’s doing,’ but he did, he knows that track really well. It was a great

The Pegasus win was the sixth win in 11 races for Mucho Gusto, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz. Bred in Kentucky by Teneri Farm and Bernardo Calderon, Mucho Gusto has earnings of over $2.5 million.

It is fascinating that Mucho Gusto went through four sales as a young horse, seemingly not winning over any owners.

He was a $14,000 ‘short’ yearling in 2017, purchased by Kelly Lively in Kentucky. Lively then sold the colt in September of that year for $95,000.

In March, 2018, Mucho Gusto was bought back for $55,000 at the OBS 2-Year-Old in Training Sale but two months later, worked one furling in 21 1/5 and brought $625,000 at the Fasig Tipton MidAtlantic Sale, May 2018. Michael Lund Peterson was the buyer.

FTI SPR 2YO 2018 Sold 05/21/18 $625,000
Buyer: Michael Lund Petersen
Consign: *Kirkwood Stables
Agent:

OBS MAR 2YO 2018 RNA 03/13/18 $55,000
Buyer:
Consign: Kirkwood Stables
Agent: Consignor is Agent

KEE SEP YRLG 2017 Sold 09/11/17 $95,000
Buyer:
Consign: *Select Sales
Agent: Consignor is Agent

KEE JAN ALL AGES 17 Sold 01/09/17 $14,000
Buyer: Kelly Lively
Consign: *Shawhan Place
Agent: Consignor is Agent

Mucho Gusto is the first foal to race fo his 3-time wining mare. This is the family of Canadian Horse of the Year PEAKS AND VALLEYS.