When we got down to the track, I didn't
know what to do or who to hug. They had
a great party at the hotel. I tried to stay up
all night! It was pretty unbelievable really."
Reeves was quick to give credit to Rit-
vo, "I don't know anybody else who could
have gotten that horse to finish second in
that race as a 4-year-old and come back to
win it as a 5-year-old. We had some issues
with a quarter crack and things we had to
overcome. To get him back and win that, it
was a tremendous training job."
Mucho Macho Man made two more
star ts following his career high in the
Breeders' Cup and retired to stud at Frank
Stronach's Adena Springs. His oldest foals
turned three this year and he already has
one son following in his hoofprints on the
Derby trail in $625,000 EASMAY buy Mucho
Gusto, who has won a pair of Grade IIIs
and finished second in a Grade I for Hall of
Famer Bob Baffert. The Reeveses retained
a 20% interest in their stable star, which
led them to trying their hand at breeding
for the first time.
"We tried to get some mares to support
him, but we are not big breeders," Reeves
said. "That is not my cup of tea, but we still
have three mares and some Mucho Macho
Man homebreds and others we bought at
the sales."
Jockey GARY STEVENS
