Mucho Macho Man was one of last year’s top 3-year-olds, with a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and a win the Risen Star (Grade 3) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

He will make his first 2012 start on Saturday at Gulfstream Park as one of the favorites in the $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

The Classic is one of six stakes races on Gulfstream’s inaugural Florida Sunshine Millions day. All six have purses of $150,000 or more and are restricted to Florida-breds who are 4 years old and up.

The event is the successor to the Sunshine Millions competition between Florida-breds and California-breds that Gulfstream and its affiliate, Santa Anita Park, held annually between 2003 and last year.

Florida-breds had more points each year — based on first-, second- and third-place finishes. Those results and travel costs between the two states were among reasons for cancellation of the event.

Mucho Macho Man will share Saturday’s star billing with Eclipse Awards winners Awesome Feather and Musical Romance, who will be in filly and mare stakes.

Mucho Macho Man, always a large horse, has continued to grow and has become more mature since last year, said his trainer Kathy Ritvo.

The seven-horse Classic field has speedsters Ron the Greek and Turbo Compressor, both winners of two stakes last year. Duke of Mischief and Adios Charlie will probably join Mucho Macho Man in rating behind a fast pace.

Other Races

• Awesome Feather, unbeaten in eight career starts, will be a heavy favorite in the $300,000 Distaff at 1 1/8 miles. Tiz the Argument could have the best chance for an upset. In 2010, Awesome Feather swept the three-race Florida Stallion Stakes Series at Calder Casino & Race Course and later won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Eclipse Award for 2-year-old females.

• Musical Romance will face a challenge from Pomeroys Pistol in the $150,000 Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs. Musical Romance won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and the Eclipse Award for female sprinters. Pomeroys Pistol won the Sugar Swirl Stakes (Grade 3) at Gulfstream on Dec. 11.

• The $150,000 Sprint, at six furlongs for males, will feature a rematch between Apriority and Zero Rate Policy. On Dec. 31, Apriority beat Zero Rate Policy by a nose in the Mr. Prospector Stakes (Grade 3) at Gulfstream.

• Little Mike, the winner of three graded turf stakes at Gulfstream last year, is the likely favorite in the $150,000 Turf at 1 1/8 miles. Teaks North and Bad Debt are among top challengers.

• The $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf is 1 1/8 miles and includes Trip for A.J. and Askbut I Won’ttell.