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Macho Uno's talent pulls him through

By David Grening
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - His talent prevailed over his immaturity Saturday as Macho Uno, despite weaving down the Churchill Downs homestretch, held off the late-charge of Point Given to win the $1.07 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a nose. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to Street Cry.

A P Valentine, winner of the Champagne and the 2-1 Juvenile favorite, finished last. Trainer Nick Zito said he believes A P Valentine "flipped his palate and that he bled a little bit."

Macho Uno, a son of Holy Bull, is a half-brother to Awesome Again, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic over this same track.

"Macho Uno means number one man," owner Frank Stronach said. "I think he proved it today that he's the number one man of the 2-year-old colts."

The victory came about 45 minutes after Stronach, trainer Joe Orseno, and jockey Jerry Bailey combined to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with Perfect Sting.

"It's been a fun hour," said Orseno, who captured the first two Breeders' Cup races of his career.

A key decision by Orseno may have made the difference in Macho Uno winning and losing the Juvenile. While the traditional Juvenile preps are the Champagne, Lane's End Breeders' Futurity, and Norfolk Stakes, Orseno sent his horse to Canada for the Grade 1 Grey Stakes at Woodbine. Orseno's reasoning was that it was a two-turn race and it was four weeks before the Breeders' Cup. Macho Uno won the four-horse Grey by seven lengths.

"It played a major, major role in getting him to the wire here today," Orseno said.

Macho Uno broke alertly under Bailey, who kept him in fifth position but less than two lengths off the front-running pair of Arabian Light and Flame Thrower, both trained by Bob Baffert, who also saddled Point Given.

Bailey moved Macho Uno into third position leaving the five-sixteenths pole and guided him off the inside turning for home, setting his sights on Arabian Light, who was in front under Shane Sellers. Bailey went to a vigorous left-handed whip to try to motivate Macho Uno, and it caused Macho Uno to duck out and switch leads three times in the final furlong. But, he was still able to get to the wire first, holding off Point Given, who was floated into the middle of the track for the stretch drive.

Macho Uno covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.05 and returned $14.60 to win.

"I thought if I hit him left-handed as he made the lead it might keep his attention a little longer," Bailey said. "The opposite happened. He ducked away from it and it took him two or three strides to gain himself again. If he could put everything together he's probably three or four lengths better than these right now."

The Juvenile was only the fourth start for Macho Uno, who won his maiden at Saratoga and finished third, beaten a neck by City Zip and Yonaguska, in the Hopeful before the Grey.

"He's very talented," Orseno said. "He's full of ability, but right now he's just a young colt. We tried to manage him where we only raced him four times this year. He's got a lot more to learn. Hopefully, we'll get it straightened it out by May."

May, of course, is when the Kentucky Derby is run. And with his victory in the Juvenile, Macho Uno stamped himself as the winter book favorite for the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Keep in mind, however, that these are the same connections that skipped this year's Derby with Red Bullet.

"We're going to manage this horse properly," Orseno said. "If the Derby's not the right race for him, then you might not see him here. It's totally up to the horse."

The Juvenile was a frustrating race for trainers Baffert and Nick Zito. Baffert was upset to see Arabian Light on the lead, dueling with his previously unbeaten colt Flame Thrower. Point Given, who was last at the three-eighths pole, rallied while wide to get second.

"I'd rather have him out there in the 12 post," Baffert said of Point Given, who broke from the rail. "He's just a big horse; hard for him to maneuver. But, he's a pretty serious horse."

Gary Stevens, who won three races on the card, thought he was going to catch Macho Uno with Point Given.

"I was forced a little wide into the stretch," Stevens said. "Fifty yards out, he just wasn't making up the necessary ground. I saw Bailey's horse do some funny things approaching the wire and I thought we could get him."

A P Valentine was considered a serious threat coming into the Juvenile. But after racing in contention down the backside, he gave way on the second turn and finished last.

"Something must have happened; how could he run like that?" Zito said. "Down the backside it looked like he was home free."


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