Racing fans looking for new national thoroughbred stars might have found two on Saturday in the big and improving colt Mucho Macho Man and the smooth-running and unbeaten filly Awesome Feather.

They were the impressive and popular winners of the featured stakes on Florida Sunshine Millions day at Gulfstream Park.

Mucho Macho Man beat Ron the Greek by 1 1/2 lengths in the $400,000 Classic, and Awesome Feather defeated Delightful Mary by 5 3/4 lengths in the $300,000 Distaff.

The two winners, both 4-year-olds, were in second place during the first half of their 1 1/8-mile stakes and then powered to the lead and won in fast times.

Mucho Macho Man’s win generated a roar and chants of “Macho” from many in the crowd of about 8,200 and a packed celebration in the winner’s circle. He is trained by Kathy Ritvo, the wife of Gulfstream president Tim Ritvo.

Mucho Macho Man, a son of Macho Uno, gained attention last year by running in all three Triple Crown races, including a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

He was born in June 2008, making him the youngest horse in those races.

“He came back smarter, more mature and even bigger,” Ritvo said of the bay colt.

Mucho Macho Man was the 2-1 second choice in a deep seven-horse Classic field. Adios Charlie, coming off a strong 3-year-old season, was the 8-5 favorite,

Turbo Compressor led Mucho Macho Man by a half length after three quarters of a mile in 1:10.84. Mucho Macho Man then took the lead and accelerated with long strides, winning in 1:47.91.

“He gave me so much confidence, I was just like a passenger,” jockey Ramon Dominguez said.

The time was less than a half second off the track record of 1:47.49 set in 2010 by Quality Road — the biggest star in recent years at Gulfstream.

The win was the fourth in 13 starts for Mucho Macho Man, who has finished second or third in four other major stakes.

Awesome Feather won in 1:49.17 while pulling away under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez,

“She just hit another gear, and it was over,” said Chad Brown, the trainer of Awesome Feather.

Frank Stronach, Gulfstream’s chairman, owns Awesome Feather who is undefeated in nine starts.

Awesome Feather has been a South Florida favorite since 2010, when she won four stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course while owned by Fred Brei and trained by Stanley Gold.

She won the 2010 Eclipse Award for 2-year-old fillies. She then missed most of 2011 with a tendon injury, before recovering and winning two stakes at New York tracks.

The Classic and Distaff were the features of a day with six stakes, all restricted to Florida-breds who are 4 years old and up.

Other Results

• It’s Me Mom led almost the entire route and beat Honey Chile by 6 3/4 lengths in the $150,000 Filly and Mare Sprint,

It’s Me Mom was ridden by Willie Martinez and ran six furlongs in 108.85. She is trained by Lynne Scace.

Musical Romance, the winner of the 2011 Eclipse Award as female sprinter, finished fourth in the seven-horse field following a troubled start.

• Little Mike opened up a big early lead and held on to defeat Slews Answer by three-quarters of a length in the $150,000 Turf stakes.

Little Mike was ridden by Joe Bravo and ran 1 1/8 miles in a fast 1:45:94 over a firm turf course.

Dale Romans trains Little Mike.

• Soaring Stocks beat Cajun Breeze by a half length in the $150,000 Sprint.

Soaring Stocks ran six furlongs in 1:09.49 under John Velazquez. He is trained by Todd Pletcher.

• Hooh Why rallied from fourth place in midstretch to defeat Romacaca by 1 1/4lengths in the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf.

She was ridden by Velazquez and ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.77. Shirley Girten-Drake trains Hooh Why.

Sunday Stakes

Gulfstream will have the $400,000 Holy Bull (Grade 3) at one mile for 3-year-olds. Hansen, last year’s winner of the Eclipse Award for 2-year-old males, heads a six-horse field.

The co-feature is the $200,000 Forward Gal (Grade 2) at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.