Mucho Macho Man wins Suburban Handicap
July 7, 2012NEW YORK (AP) - Mucho Macho Man won the $350,000 Suburban Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park, beating Hymn Book by 2 1/2 lengths.
After sitting second behind the pacesetting Trickmeister, Mucho Macho Man took charge turning for home and was under a hand ride from Mike Smith approaching the finish wire. The time was 1:46.58 for 1 1/8 miles.
The 4-year-old, trained by Kathy Ritvo, has sixth victories in 16 starts.
Mucho Macho Man, third last year in the Kentucky Derby, paid $13.60, $5.40 and $4.10. Hymn Book returned $5.20 and $3.90, and Trickmeister paid $6.20 to show.
Emma's Encore paid $80 to win for her upset victory in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies as Agave Kiss, the 1-5 favorite, suffered her first defeat.
Junior Alvarado was aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens as Emma's Encore got her third victory in nine starts. Agave Kiss, undefeated in seven starts coming in, set the pace under pressure from Jamaican Smoke before fading to fifth in the six-horse field.