Mucho Macho Man grabs Tuesday headlines// Asmussen high on Maclean’s Music// The Factor in same breath as Big Brown, Fusaichi Pegasus?

Summary:

Today was Mucho Macho Man’s day in the press. From appearing lifeless at birth, owners who paid as little as $800 a share, and a trainer who is living a second life on a heart transplant, it’s a guarantee there will be a signature NBC segment on Derby Day// In other Louisiana Derby news, long shot Populist Politics was scratched.  Elite Alex’s trainer Tim Ritchey says the million dollar purse and long stretch were reasons to enter.  He’s currently on the outside looking in to the Derby// Several articles today on Maclean’s Music, the most recent blistering maiden winner at Santa Anita I touched on yesterday.  Trainer Steve Asmussen didn’t rule anything out, but due to timing he may have to point for the Preakness.  The Bloodhorse story has several other good tidbits from Asmussen; Astrology, scheduled to race Sunday in the Sunland Derby, had a delayed start due to illness and he was also not pleased with Garret Gomez’s trip aboard Albergatti in the San Felipe (neither was my wager)// Mike Shutty draws comparisons between The Factor’s performance on Saturday and the second-to-last prep races of Derby winners Big Brown and Fusaichi Pegasus// more…

Entries:

3/26 Louisiana Derby (G2): pp’s, videos, and articles here

3/26 UAE Derby (G2): entries here (Downey Profile)

Articles:

·       Populist Politics to run in Crescent City Derby, not La Derby (The Times-Picayune)

·       Louisiana Derby: Breen, Halls still have their share of Kentucky Derby hopefuls (DRF)

·       Mucho Macho Man a gift of the heart (Bloodhorse)

·       Mucho Macho Man’s story almost beyond belief (TTimes)

·       Locally owned horse could be Kentucky Derby favorite (WXIA)

·       Long Fair Grounds stretch suits Elite Alex (Horse Racing Nation)

·       Left gets shot in Louisiana Derby (Horse Racing Nation)

·       Howard pleased with works by Wilkinson, Machen (The Times-Picayune)

·       Spiral Stakes a must-win for Positive Response’s Kentucky Derby hopes (DRF)

·       UAE Derby notes 3/22 (Downey Profile)

·       Next race plans: Where they’re going next (Downey Profile)

·       Maclean’s Music will be heard (Bloodhorse)

·       Stonestreet rolls out another dazzling colt (TTimes)

·       Asmussen’s Army: Astrology, Maclean’s Music, Silver Medallion  (Zipse At The Derby)

·       The Factor…strikingly similar to Big Brown and Fusiachi Pegasus (Horse Racing Nation)

·       Derby Diary: Soldat, friends, and family (TTimes)

Videos

·       Neil Howard’s Two Louisiana Derby prospects (The Times-Picayune)

Works:

·       Madman Diaries: GP- 5F- 59:20- H- 1/18

·       Yankee Passion: OP- 3F- 40:00- B- 6/8

·       Jaycito: HOL-4F- 48:40- H- 7/12

Rankings:

·       Jack McKinney’s Top 20 Contenders (Daily Racing News)

Notes:

·       Asmussen referred to Albergatti's plight in the San Felipe as an 'insane' pace scenario  (Jeff Lowe Twitter)

·       Asmussen: I don't think special is a good enough word to describe(MacLean's Music (Jeff Lowe Twitter)

·       Asmussen calls Sunday's Sunland Derby "a tall order" for Astrology (Zipseatthetrack Twitter)

·       Word is that both Pants on Fire and Populist Politics will be scratched from the Louisiana Derby (Zipseatthetrack Twitter)

·       Winning Beyers last week: Maclean's Music-114; The Factor-103; Bandbox-91; Courtside-80; Escort-85; Opening Move-90 (Derby Contenders Twitter)

·       Top winning BRIS figs last week: Maclean's Music-107; The Factor-106; Bandbox-104; Courtside-101; Escort-99; Opening Move-98 (Derby Contenders Twitter)