Beauty for all

Ritvo shows Mucho confidence in Macho Man

BALTIMORE — Braintree native Kathy Ritvo is excited about Mucho Macho Man’s second start on the Triple Crown campaign in today’s $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

Mucho Macho Man finished well to come in third behind Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 and has impressed his trainer with his preparation for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

“I think he’ll be sharper, more aggressive. He seems to get along at any racetrack, any surface,” said Ritvo who began her training career at Suffolk Downs at the age of 18. “Bring it on. Animal Kingdom’s a very nice horse. I like him, but I love the way my horse is training. I’m confident.”

Ritvo said she’s very optimistic that Mucho Macho Man will handle the two-week turnaround from the Derby to the Preakness.

“Between the Nashua and the Remsen, we just had three weeks, and the horse ran a fantastic race. There just was no pace at all,” said Ritvo, whose colt finished second behind alone-on-the-lead To Honor and Serve in both stakes at Aqueduct last fall. “I think he’ll come back here and run a great race. He couldn’t be doing any better than he’s doing. He galloped this morning unbelievably.”

Bettors Dialed In

As of 6:30 last evening, Dialed In was favored slightly over Kentucky Derby-winner Animal Kingdom in early betting for today’s Preakness Stakes. Nick Zito’s eighth-place Derby finisher, who was rated second at 9-2 in the morning line, was bet down to 3-1. Animal Kingdom, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, was second in wagering at 7-2.

The odds for the 14-horse field, from the rail out: Astrology, 13-1; Norman Asbjornson, 30-1; King Congie, 21-1; Flashpoint, 23-1; Shackleford, 12-1; Sway Away, 12-1; Midnight Interlude, 9-1; Dance City, 10-1; Mucho Macho Man, 6-1; Dialed In, 3-1; Animal Kingdom, 7-2; Isn’t He Perfect, 23-1; Concealed Identity, 21-1; Mr. Commons, 45-1.

Back in the saddle

Abby Fuller, who rode most of her career at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park, returned to action yesterday in the Lady Legends For the Cure II, competing against seven other retired female jockeys in the seventh race on a 13-race program for the benefit of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization.

The 52-year-old Fuller set the pace under Stone in Love, the 3-2 favorite who stumbled at the start, only to relinquish the lead to Mass Destruction, ridden by Mary Wiley-Wagner, in mid-stretch. Fuller’s mount held second money in the six-furlong allowance.

“It’s over so fast,” she said. “I didn’t so much want the lead. I just thought the horse would be there. He switched leads a couple times for me. They didn’t really go that fast. It was cool. I’d probably do it again.”

Fuller, who rode her father Peter Fuller’s homebred Mom’s Command for a sweep of the 1985 New York Filly Triple Crown, retired from riding in 2002 with 579 victories.

In another four-race competition for active women riders, Emma-Jayne Wilson, a Canadian-based jockey prevailed over Forest Bryce, 28-24, to win the inaugural Female Jockey Challenge. (source : bostonherald.com)

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