By Christie DeBernardis
MUCHO RETURNS AT GULFSTREAM
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
by Christie DeBernardis
2nd-GP, $51K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 3yo, 6f, 1:05 p.m.
'TDN Rising Star' MUCHO (Blame&log=#tot">Blame) makes his highly anticipated return to the races after receiving time off for an ankle issue that did not require surgery. Romping by 9 3/4 lengths at second asking at Saratoga Aug. 4, the homebred finished second by just 3/4 of a length when last seen in the Spa's GI Hopeful S. Sept. 3. The bay, who will receive Lasix for the first time in this test, displays a trio of bullet works leading up to this comeback, most recently breezing three panels in :36 2/5 (1/7) at Payson Feb. 25. TJCIS PPs
ROADSTER MAKES SEASONAL BOW AT SANTA ANITA
8th-SA, $57K, Opt. Clm. ($80K), 3yo, 1m, 7:53 p.m.
Mucho is not the only 'TDN Rising Star' making his return to the races Friday. Over on the West Coast, fellow 'Rising Star' ROADSTER (Quality Road) will be heavily favored in his comeback race at Santa Anita after six months on the sidelines. An impressive and well-hyped debut winner at Del Mar July 29, the $525,000 KEESEP was favored to repeat in the Sept. 3 GI Del Mar Futurity, but finished third behind his less-fancied stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}), who went on to win the GI American Pharoah S., the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and an Eclipse Award. About 2 1/2 weeks after that race, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert announced the colt would be sidelined due to a displaced palate and freshened for a sophomore campaign. TJCIS PPs
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