He has a fresh horse, a favorable post position and a cozier field. Suwanee’s Dean Reeves goes into Saturday’s Preakness happily devoid of ready-made excuses.
The majority owner of Mucho Macho Man — third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago — can think of no good reason why his horse won’t be at least that competitive on the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“He has trained really well. Kathy [Ritvo, the trainer] is not holding anything back. He shipped well. He arrived full of energy. He put on some weight, even after the Derby.
“He looks just great. I think we’re set for a good run Saturday,” Reeves said.
The three morning-line favorites will start side by side by side for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course. Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, an early 2-to-1 Preakness shot, drew the No. 11 post position. Derby favorite Dialed In — which finished a disappointing eighth, but still was 9-to-2 in the Preakness early odds — will start one gate to the inside. And one spot inside of him is Mucho Macho Man (6-to-1).
Mucho Macho Man was caught up in traffic through much of the Derby, breaking free in time to make a late stretch run for third, finishing a head behind Nehro and three lengths behind Animal Kingdom. There will be a smaller field Saturday — 14 horses as opposed to 19 — meaning fewer obstacles to negotiate. Reeves hopes that jockey Rajiv Maragh will be able to position Mucho Macho Man for his finishing kick a bit earlier than at the Derby.
The short turnaround between the Derby and the Preakness has taken its toll. Only five Derby horses will go to the Preakness post. Among those skipping this race is the horse that finished in front of Mucho Macho Man in both the Kentucky and Louisiana derbies — Nehro — whose owners are saving him for the Belmont in three weeks.
Reeves said his horse recovered so quickly from his previous race that “he doesn’t even look like he raced in the Derby.”
“I think the fact we had six weeks [off] before the Derby and that Kathy had him so fit is why he came out of the race in such good shape,” he said.
“We set up to try to run these three races. That’s why we didn’t run something close to the Derby. I think the plan is working well.
“He’s going to be ready to go Saturday, and hopefully comes out of that well and we’ll point to the Belmont.”
Saturday his horse may well be chasing Animal Kingdom again. Triple Crown winners are scarce. There hasn’t been one since Affirmed in 1978, but seven horses since 1997 have won the Derby-Preakness double — and seven of the past 10 favorites have won the Preakness.
“He’s a very nice horse, but we’re going to try to catch him this time,” Ritvo said.
In his handicapping Reeves seems to value the Derby-tested horses well above the other nine in the field.
“I really think it’s down to Dialed In and Animal Kingdom and Shackleford [the Derby pace-setter that finished fourth]. Midnight Interlude [16th in the Derby] may run better,” Reeves said.
“I really believe we got to beat the Derby winner.”
