Guns Loaded, stepping up to stakes company off a
mid-November maiden triumph, established the early lead and had enough left to
turn back late-running long shot Treaty of Rome for a neck victory in
Saturday’s $165,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile at
Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Morplay Racing, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable and ridden by Luis Sáez for trainer José D’Angelo, Guns Loaded
($4.60) completed the distance in 1:38.87 over a fast main track as the 6-5
favorite. It was his second straight win and the second consecutive Mucho Macho
Man triumph for Sáez following Otello in 2024. Sáez also won with Mutasaabeq in
2021.

Click here for Gulfstream Park entries and results.

Guns Loaded sprang from the rail post and was alone up front
after Macho Music, who was expected to challenge for the lead, broke poorly and
found himself shuffled back early. Sáez and Guns Loaded set opening fractions
of 24.54 and 47.61 seconds tracked by D’Angelo-trained stablemate McKellen with
Treaty of Rome third and previously undefeated Septarian in the clear in
fourth.

“The trip was perfect,” Sáez said. “We were concerned about (Macho
Music). He have a lot of speed, but he missed the break, and we ended up on the
lead, and we took it. He was traveling pretty great. Pretty comfortable. When
we came to the top of the stretch, I was trying to save as much horse as I
could.”

Six furlongs went in 1:12.75 with Guns Loaded still in
command, straightening for home as McKellen began to drop back and Treaty of
Rome was swung outside for his bid by jockey Dylan Davis. Guns Loaded clung to
the lead as Treaty of Rome closed stoutly but ran out of time, finishing 3 3/4
lengths ahead of Septarian.

Macho Music, Cool Intentions, McKellen and Sonic Skidaddle
completed the finish in that order. Naughty Rascal and Rolando were scratched.

“I was pretty sure that he was going to be on the lead. I
was just afraid that he would go too fast, because it was his first time going
the mile, and from the no. 1 (post), you have to ask a little bit from the
gate, but everything worked perfect,” D’Angelo said. “I worked a little this
week at the gate with him, … because you have to go in before everybody, wait
and break sharp, and that’s what happened.”

Guns Loaded ran second in his late August unveiling at
Saratoga before graduating by 2 3/4 lengths Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs. He
tuned up for his sophomore opener with four breezes at Palm Meadows,
Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Fla.

“Today he looked green again,” D’Angelo said. “He ran the
first time out in Saratoga, and he tried to go inside, and he did the same
today. I asked Luis about the gallop out, and he said when he saw the other
horse, he got another gear. So that’s good, but we have to train him now going
forward.”

D’Angelo said the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles
Feb. 1 at Gulfstream would be the next target for Guns Loaded.

“That’s the plan,” he said.