Sonic Mule wins Mucho Macho Man by a head

HALLANDALE BEACH — The backup plan worked quite nicely for Sonic Mule.

Ticketed for the 6-furlong Hutcheson Stakes which was supposed to run Saturday at Gulfstream Park, trainer Todd Pletcher entered his 3-year-old in the mile $100,000 Mucho Macho Man when the Hutcheson didn’t fill.

The colt rewarded his trainer with a gritty performance, holding off State of Honor in a stretch duel to win by a head in 1:37.52. The win was Sonic Mule’s third in as many starts and gave jockey Javier Castellano his third win on the day. A fast charging Talk Logistics finished third.

Pletcher, who saddled two winners on the day, had some concerns about his colt’s ability to go a mile but was pleased with his ability to grind out the win.

“He was giving Javier everything he had,” Pletcher said. “He has shown to be that kind of horse. He’s got a lot of determination and a lot of fight. He’s a cool horse to be around.”

Pletcher indicated that the most likely landing spot for Sonic Mule on Feb. 4 will be the 7-furlong Swale rather than the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

In other races, Pletcher’s Made You Look mounted a furious stretch run to take the $100,000 GIII Dania Beach Stakes. The son of More Than Ready won the 7 1/2-furlong turf race in 1:29.98.

Stablemate Squadron set the early pace, leading the field through modest fractions. As the field gathered at the head of the stretch, Made You Look was clearly the best, drawing off to win by 2 1/2-lengths. Longshot Clyde’s Image and Shiraz finished in order behind.

Bellavais survived being hit in the face by a rival rider’s crop in the stretch to win the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes.

India Mantuana threatened to steal the race on the lead, but John Velazquez, who saved ground on Bellavais, moved her off of the rail in the final furlong and moved to challenge the pacesetter.

When Leonel Reyes on India Mantuana tapped Bellavais on the nose, she reared briefly but steadied and ran on to capture the 7 1/2-furlong turf race in 1:30.37. Lady Alexandra finished third.

The biggest upset of the four stakes races came in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes. Wildcat Kate, at 12-1, pressured heavy favorite and previously undefeated Bode’s Dream on the early pace and then prevailed in deep stretch to win by a neck.

Breaking from the inside post, Bode’s Dream shot to the lead in the 6-furlong race, but jockey Eduardo Nunez aboard Wildcat Kate would not allow her to get loose on the lead. Wildcat Kate pressured Bode’s Dream throughout, setting up the duo for a stretch run where Wildcat Kate proved the best.

The winning time was 1:11.46. Summer Luck finished a distant third. traditionally supplements the purse equally along with Gulfstream and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, could not be reached.