Inside the rise of $14k Preakness ‘bargain’ Mugatu, named after Zoolander villain played by Will Ferrell
MUGATU entered pop culture as the name of an iconic villain in the 2001 Ben Stiller movie Zoolander.
Now Mugatu is poised to reach a whole new level of fame as one of the contenders in Saturday's $2 million Preakness Stakes.
Trained by Jeff Engler and ridden by Joe Bravo, the 3-year-old colt is named after Jacobim Mugatu, a character in Zoolander played by Will Ferrell.
"We got with each other, the owners, and bounced some names around,” owner Christopher Britton said.
“It came down to Mugatu, which some people liked because they liked that Zoolander movie, and there were a couple of us who like Mr. Blojangles, because he was [sired] by Blofeld.
"Mugatu ended up winning the shake, you could say.”
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Mugatu was purchased by Average Joe Racing Stables Ltd for a bargain $14,000.
“We didn’t have that big of a budget,” Britton told Paulick Report.
“We told our bloodstock agent, ‘Find us as nice a one as you can get for $15,000 at the OBS sale'."
Mugatu most recently finished fifth in the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes on April 6.
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The colt rallied from last in the 10-horse field to finish fifth behind Sierra Leone, Just a Touch, Epic Ride, and Dornoch, all of whom went on to run in the Kentucky Derby.
Mugatu was on the bubble to make the Kentucky Derby due to late withdrawals – but did not make the field.
“At first, we didn’t want to get our hopes up because we were third alternate, Britton said.
“Then Seize the Grey went ahead and dropped out and went to the Pat Day Mile, which was good for them because they won it.
"Then Encino scratches, and we were sitting here on Tuesday thinking it could be a reality.
"It didn’t happen.”
Mugatu is an outsider for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, after going seven races without victory.
But the horse's trainers are quietly optimistic for success.
Some people liked [the name Mugatu] because they liked that Zoolander movie.
Mugatu owner Christopher Britton
“He's getting better. He really moved up on the dirt. His numbers proved it," Engler said.
"We were a little frustrated we didn't get into the Derby. We feel the more distance the better for this horse.
"I do like the 1 3/16 miles, so we're going to head up.”
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Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will be going for a second successive Triple Crown victory at the Preakness.
The Bob Baffert-trained Muth is considered the favorite for the race.
