Macho Uno (USA)
April 24, 1998 – August 30, 2024
Holy Bull (USA) x Primal Force (USA), by Blushing Groom (FR)
Family 1-c
April 24, 1998 – August 30, 2024
Holy Bull (USA) x Primal Force (USA), by Blushing Groom (FR)
Family 1-c
Macho Uno had considerable talent but at his best was probably not the equal of 2001 American Horse of the Year Point Given, whom he beat by a diminishing nose in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1). Just how good he was is difficult to determine due to the physical issues he suffered during his racing career and an apparent disinclination to give his best at times. He was an inconsistent sire but had a sprinkling of very talented horses among his progeny, continuing the male line descended from 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit to his best son, Mucho Macho Man.
Race record
14 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,851,803
2000:
2001:
2002:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2000)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 1 pound above second-rated Point Given.
As an individual
A smoothly made, leggy gray standing 16.1 hands, Macho Uno had a beautifully angled shoulder, a short back and powerfully muscled hindquarters. When in the mood to run, he was game and determined. His inconsistent attitude about racing may be traceable to a variety of physical ailments suffered during his racing career including a bone density problem and a filling behind a knee that was detected following his fifth-place finish in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1). He officially remained in training as a 5-year-old but never made it back to the racetrack that year.
As a stallion
As of September 8, 2024, The Jockey Club credits Macho Uno with 602 winners (61.1%) and 51 stakes winners (5.2%) from 984 named foals of racing age. His runners were generally better as they matured, and his colts were generally better than his fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Macho Again (USA), Mucho Macho Man (USA), Private Vow (USA), Tolomeo (MEX), V. I. P. Zone (USA), Whoopee Maker (BRZ), Wicked Style (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Mandrake (BRZ), Obligatory (USA), Opazo (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Macho Uno was bred and owned by Frank Stronach, whose Adena Springs is the breeder of record; Macho Uno raced in the name of Stronach Stables. The colt was trained by Joe Orseno. Macho Uno entered stud in Florida in 2004 at Adena Springs South, moving to Adena Springs' Kentucky operation in 2008. The stallion also shuttled to Haras São Jose da Serra in Brazil in 2010. He was pensioned in 2020 and was moved back to Adena Springs South to live out the remainder of his life. He was euthanized in August 2024 due to complications of a liver disorder.
Pedigree notes
Macho Uno is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Awesome Again (by Deputy Minister), a successful sire.
Primal Force, the dam of Macho Uno, won half her eight starts but never earned black type. The 2000 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, she is a half sister to Glimmer of Gold (by Slew o' Gold), dam of Grade 3 winner Miss Ra He Ra (by Rahy), second dam of multiple Panamanian champion El Autentico and third dam of 2013 Forego Stakes (USA-G1) winner Strapping Groom. Primal Force is also a half sister to Brise Vole (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Delta Storm.
Primal Force and her siblings were produced from the Mr. Prospector mare Prime Prospect, a stakes-winning half sister to the stakes-winning colts No House Call (by Dr. Fager) and Square Your Hat (by Al Hattab). Produced from multiple stakes winner Square Generation (by Olden Times), Prime Prospect is also a half sister to stakes-placed Back Ack (by Ack Ack), dam of 1987 American champion older female North Sider (by Topsider) and stakes winner Shawnee Creek (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of five stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Storm Creek. In addition, Prime Prospect is a half sister to Very Clever (by Ack Ack), dam of restricted stakes winner Try and Be Clever (by Regal Intention); to stakes-placed Antique Glow (by Fluorescent Light), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Airbourne Command (by Exbourne) and second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2I winner Dona Polenta and Argentine Group 3 winner Dona Polola; and to Square Grouper (by Cox's Ridge), second dam of four stakes winners including New Zealand Group 3 winner Our Fuji.
Books and media
Footage of Macho Uno’s win in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXy8Hn3cNSo.
Photo credits
Photographs taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South in 2006.
Race record
14 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,851,803
2000:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes (CAN-G1, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
2001:
- Won Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 3rd Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown)
2002:
- Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Suffolk)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2000)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 1 pound above second-rated Point Given.
As an individual
A smoothly made, leggy gray standing 16.1 hands, Macho Uno had a beautifully angled shoulder, a short back and powerfully muscled hindquarters. When in the mood to run, he was game and determined. His inconsistent attitude about racing may be traceable to a variety of physical ailments suffered during his racing career including a bone density problem and a filling behind a knee that was detected following his fifth-place finish in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1). He officially remained in training as a 5-year-old but never made it back to the racetrack that year.
As a stallion
As of September 8, 2024, The Jockey Club credits Macho Uno with 602 winners (61.1%) and 51 stakes winners (5.2%) from 984 named foals of racing age. His runners were generally better as they matured, and his colts were generally better than his fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 9th on the North American general sire list in 2013.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 10th on the American general sire list in 2013.
Macho Again (USA), Mucho Macho Man (USA), Private Vow (USA), Tolomeo (MEX), V. I. P. Zone (USA), Whoopee Maker (BRZ), Wicked Style (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Mandrake (BRZ), Obligatory (USA), Opazo (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Macho Uno was bred and owned by Frank Stronach, whose Adena Springs is the breeder of record; Macho Uno raced in the name of Stronach Stables. The colt was trained by Joe Orseno. Macho Uno entered stud in Florida in 2004 at Adena Springs South, moving to Adena Springs' Kentucky operation in 2008. The stallion also shuttled to Haras São Jose da Serra in Brazil in 2010. He was pensioned in 2020 and was moved back to Adena Springs South to live out the remainder of his life. He was euthanized in August 2024 due to complications of a liver disorder.
Pedigree notes
Macho Uno is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Awesome Again (by Deputy Minister), a successful sire.
Primal Force, the dam of Macho Uno, won half her eight starts but never earned black type. The 2000 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, she is a half sister to Glimmer of Gold (by Slew o' Gold), dam of Grade 3 winner Miss Ra He Ra (by Rahy), second dam of multiple Panamanian champion El Autentico and third dam of 2013 Forego Stakes (USA-G1) winner Strapping Groom. Primal Force is also a half sister to Brise Vole (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Delta Storm.
Primal Force and her siblings were produced from the Mr. Prospector mare Prime Prospect, a stakes-winning half sister to the stakes-winning colts No House Call (by Dr. Fager) and Square Your Hat (by Al Hattab). Produced from multiple stakes winner Square Generation (by Olden Times), Prime Prospect is also a half sister to stakes-placed Back Ack (by Ack Ack), dam of 1987 American champion older female North Sider (by Topsider) and stakes winner Shawnee Creek (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of five stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Storm Creek. In addition, Prime Prospect is a half sister to Very Clever (by Ack Ack), dam of restricted stakes winner Try and Be Clever (by Regal Intention); to stakes-placed Antique Glow (by Fluorescent Light), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Airbourne Command (by Exbourne) and second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2I winner Dona Polenta and Argentine Group 3 winner Dona Polola; and to Square Grouper (by Cox's Ridge), second dam of four stakes winners including New Zealand Group 3 winner Our Fuji.
Books and media
Footage of Macho Uno’s win in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXy8Hn3cNSo.
Photo credits
Photographs taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South in 2006.
Last updated: September 8, 2024