Pegasus World Cup Profile: Mucho Gusto

Pegasus World Cup Post Positions

By Margaret Ransom

Mucho Gusto – Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita Park

Is anyone surprised Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert would pass up a chance to compete in a race worth $3 million?

And so it is that Baffert has committed to sending out Mucho Gusto in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. What’s more surprising is that the 4-year-old colt will be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz, Jr., who surprisingly took off Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Spun to Run to ride for Baffert. Joe Talamo had previously ridden Mucho Gusto in all his starts.

While Spun To Run trainer Juan Guerrero was understandably upset with the last-minute change, he came up with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano to replace Ortiz.

Mucho Gusto is the third betting choice on the morning line at 9-2 behind Omaha Beach (7-5) and Spun to Run (7-2). Mucho Gusto is a solid runner making his first start in 3½ months (fourth in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 29) after training well in four workouts at his home base in Santa Anita. A sharp 6-furlong breeze in 1:11.60 on Jan. 16 convinced Baffert to go big in Florida instead of small in the $100,000 Fred Hooper (G3) on the Pegasus undercard.

“He worked well,’’ Baffert said. “It’s a mile and an eighth and it’s a $3 million race.”

Though Mucho Gusto didn’t make it to the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2019, he won the Laz Barrerra (G3) and the Affirmed (G3) before finishing second to Maximum Security – a Horse of the Year finalist — in the Haskell Invitational (G1) on a sweltering day at Monmouth Park. He also ran third in the Travers (G1). Now that Baffert’s in, Mucho Gusto has to be considered a contender.

Mucho Gusto

Odds: 9-2

Post position: No. 10

Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owner: Michael Lund Petersen

Career record: 10-5-2-2

Career earnings: $779,800

Pedigree: Mucho Macho Man-Itsagiantcauseway, by Giant’s Causeway

Age: 4

Running style: Mid-pack

Handicapping insights:

“Second to Maximum Security in Haskell but best at Grade 3; best result third or fourth.” – Ed McNamara

“Twice Grade 1-placed multiple Grade 3 winner is fresh off a layoff for 4-year-old debut .. Difficult to discount Baffert trainee in a race like this, at least when rounding out your exotics tickets.’ – Noel Michaels

Notes: Baffert won the first Pegasus World Cup in 2017 with Arrogate … Owner Michael Lund Petersen founded the popular fine jewelry line Pandora and got into racing with his first runner in 2014 … Mucho Gusto is Petersen’s second graded winner as he also owned 2017 Met Mile (G1) winner Mor Spirit … Colt was offered at public auction four times: sold for the first time for $14,000 as a Keeneland January yearling, again for $95,000 through the same ring that September, was an RNA at $55,000 at OBS in March of 2018 before Petersen signed the $625,000 sales slip at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale that May … After the World Cup, Baffert said Mucho Gusto would be pointed to the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 … Mucho Gusto has three Grade 3 wins to go with two seconds and a third in three Grade 1’s.

Pegasus World Cup Post Positions
PP Horse Jockey Trainer ML
1 True Timber Joe Bravo Kiaran McLaughlin 20-1
2 Tax Jose Ortiz Danny Gargan 12-1
3 Diamond Oops Julien Leparoux Patrick Biancone 20-1
4 Seeking the Soul John Velazquez Dallas Stewart 30-1
5 Omaha Beach Mike Smith Richard Mandella 7-5
6 Higher Power Flavien Prat John Sadler 6-1
7 War Story Joel Rosario Elizabeth Dobles 30-1
8 Mr Freeze Luis Saez Dale Romans 30-1
9 Spun to Run Javier Castellano Juan Carlos Guerrero 7-2
10 Mucho Gusto Irad Ortiz, Jr. Bob Baffert 9-2
11 Tenfold Tyler Gaffalione Steve Asmussen 30-1
12 Bodexpress Emisael Jaramillo Gustavo Delgado 30-1