Mucho Macho Man, Jackson Bend and Tackleberry to fight it out in the Gulfstream Park Handicap
Nicholas P. Zito is eyeing a spot in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap for his well built sprinter, Jackson Bend, but the 5-year-old Robert V. LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm owned sprinter will have his work cut out when he goes against the
impressive Sunshine Millions Classic winner, Mucho Macho Man, and the defending champion Tackleberry.
Owned and trained by Luis Olivares, 5-year-old Montbrook horse, Tackleberry had a fantastic 2010 and 2011 season, and last year Tackleberry downed three races in a row, including the Sunshine Millions Classic, Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship
and Gulfstream Park Handicap.
Out of mare Box of Joy by Concerto, Tackleberry fell away in his last two races of the season where he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Charles Town Classic and then an unimpressive 9th in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont Park.
The Gulfstream Park Handicap defending champion will make his 2012 debut in the race. The Gulfstream Park Handicap has reeled in 6 runners to run over a distance of 1 mile on 10 March, 2012, exclusive for 4-year-old and above colts and geldings.
Jackson Bend on the other hand has been far more successful over one-turn races, and his best one-turn races last year were the James Marvin Stakes at seven furlongs, then he bagged the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga, but he was nosed out by Uncle Mo
to finish second in the Grade 2 Kelso Stakes at Belmont Park.
Mucho Macho Man, who has made a big statement in his comeback race, the Sunshine Millions Classic will be looking to out finish both Tackleberry and Jackson Bend in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, and trainer Nicholas Zito was all praise for his sprinter’s
adversary.
“We know it’s going to be a tough race," Zito said. "There’s Mucho Macho Man. He’s actually one of my favorite horses, too. I’ve always liked that horse. I tried to buy that horse a couple times. He wasn’t for sale, but we tried anyway."
As far as Jackson Bend is concerned, Zito said: “He always shows up. The horse is doing well. He’s coming up to the race the way you want a horse to come up to it. You’ve got them all to beat. He has one of the biggest hearts in a horse I’ve ever seen. To
be around (at) two, three, four years, he’s amazing.”
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