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In a dramatic finish in the richest race in America, Mucho Macho Man, ridden by Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, edged a hard charging Will Take Charge to win the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Will Take Charge finished second by a nose while Declaration of War finished third to round out the trifecta.
The early pace of the Classic was, as expected, quite strong, with Moreno, Game On Dude and Fort Larned all challenged for the lead through an opening quarter of 22.42 and a half mile in a rapid 45.53 (according to the Trakus data). Mucho Macho Man and Stevens were content to sit in fourth while racing about five lanes out from the rail. As the field moved into the far turn, Mucho Macho Man challenged Game On Dude and quickly put away the public's choice. The winner stretched his lead to a couple of lengths at the top of the stretch before Declaration of War and Will Take Charge unleashed furious rallies in deep stretch. With each and every stride, Mucho Macho Man's lead shrank until it became a head-bob at the wire to determine the winner of the richest race in America.
After a heart-breaking second to Fort Larned in last year's Classic, a victory in this year's big race is sweet redemption for the connections of Mucho Macho Man.
Game On Dude faded to ninth at the wire and suffered through another horribly disappointing Classic for trainer Bob Baffert.
Mucho Macho Man is a five-year old horse by Macho Uno out of a Ponche mare (Ponche De Leona), trained by Kathy Ritvo and ridden by Gary Stevens. With this victory, Kathy Ritvo becomes the first female trainer to win a Breeders' Cup Classic.
Congratulations to the connections of Mucho Macho Man.
Below are the results and payouts from the Breeders' Cup Classic, along with the full order of finish.
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 6-Mucho Macho Man | $10.00 | $4.60 | $3.60 |
| 10-Will Take Charge | $7.20 | $4.80 | |
| 5-Declaration of War | $4.80 |
| Base | Bet | Combo | Payout | Pays to - |
| $1.00 | Exacta | 6/10 | $36.50 | |
| $0.50 | Trifecta | 6/10/5 | $152.20 | |
| $0.10 | Superfecta | 6/10/5/7 | $191.62 | |
| $2.00 | Double | 8/6 | $19.20 | |
| $1.00 | D/C Double | 5/6 | $18.90 | |
| $0.50 | Pick 3 | 9/8/6 | $18.80 | 3-of-3 |
| $0.50 | Pick 4 | 11/9/8/6 | $381.45 | 4-of-4 |
| $2.00 | Pick 6 | 2,12/4/11/9/8/6 | $47,516.20 | 6-of-6 |
| $0.50 | Super Hi-5 | 6/10/5/7/1 | $8,813.50 |
| Distance | Fractions | Internal |
| 1/4: | 22.42 | 22.42 |
| 1/2: | 45.53 | 23.11 |
| 3/4: | 1:09.28 | 23.75 |
| Mile: | 1:33.95 | 24.67 |
| Finish: | 1:59.81 | 25.86 |
Full Order of Finish
1st: Mucho Macho Man
2nd: Will Take Charge
3rd: Declaration of War
4th: Fort Larned
5th: Last Gunfighter
6th: Palace Malilce
7th: Paynter
8th: Flat Out
9th: Game On Dude
10th: Moreno
11th: Planteur (IRE)
More from And Down The Stretch They Come:
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile Results: Wise Dan does it again
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint Results: Secret Circle surges late to give Baffert the score
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf Results: Magician kicks in late for Europe
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Results: New Year's Day charges home late along the rail
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Results: Mizdirection owns the downhill turf course
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Results: Groupie Doll repeats at Santa Anita
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Results: Dank continues Europe's domination on grass
- 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Results: Ria Antonia shocks at 32/1
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