MUCHO GUSTO 3rd in the TRAVERS G1

Mucho Gusto, runner-up in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20 ran a strong third in the Travers G1.

Mucho Gusto was a $625,000 two-year-old purchase at Timonium prepared and  consigned by Kirkwood

Said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Bob Baffert, trainer of Mucho Gusto: “He’s trying. They’re tough races we’re competing in. He ran a great race. We had reason to jump up at the end and root for him. Take nothing away from the winner. He just breezed by us. We’ll go on from here. Not sure where, but we’ll find a spot.”

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Mucho Gusto worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, the fastest of 39 workers at the distance. Baffert said Mucho Gusto will be shipped on Tuesday, and that his assistant Jimmy Barnes will be at the race.

Mucho Gusto won a pair of Grade 3 events at Santa Anita Park, the Laz Barerra and the Affirmed in his two previous starts before the Haskell, where he finished 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner, Maximum Security. He’s hit the board in all eight career races, including three wins, a second and a third in 2019. The chestnut colt has career earnings of $630,8