Inside the rise of $14K Preakness ‘bargain’ Mugatu, named after villain Zoolander played by Will Ferrell

MUGATU entered pop culture as the name of an iconic villain in Ben Stiller’s 2001 film Zoolander.

Now Mugatu is poised to reach a new level of fame as one of the contenders in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness Stakes.

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Trained by Jeff Engler and ridden by Joe Bravo, the 3-year-old colt is named after Jacobim Mugatu, a Zoolander character played by Will Ferrell.

“We got together, the owners, and exchanged some names,” owner Christopher Britton said.

“It all came down to Mugatu, which some people liked because they liked that Zoolander movie, and some of us liked Mr. [sired] by Blofeld.

“Mugatu ended up winning the shake, you could say.”

Mugatu was purchased by Average Joe Racing Stables Ltd for a bargain price of $14,000.

“We didn’t have that big of a budget,” Britton said. Paulick Report.

“We told our blood agent, ‘Find us as good one as you can get for $15,000 at the OBS sale.’”

Mugatu recently finished fifth in the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes on April 6.

The colt came from last place in the 10-horse field to finish fifth behind Sierra Leone, Just a Touch, Epic Ride and Dornoch, who all ran in the Kentucky Derby.

Mugatu was poised 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 the third alternate,” Britton said.

“So Seize the Gray went ahead and gave up and went for the Pat Day Mile, which was good for them because they won.

“Then Encino scratched it, and we were sitting here on Tuesday thinking it could be a reality.

“This did not happened.”

Mugatu is an outsider in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, after seven races without a win.

But the horse trainers are quietly optimistic about success.

Some people liked it [the name Mugatu] because they liked that Zoolander movie.

Mugatu owner Christopher Britton

“He is improving. He actually ascended the earth. His numbers proved it,” Engler said.

“We were a little frustrated that we didn’t get into the Derby. We feel that the more distance the better for this horse.

“I like the 1 3/16 miles, so let’s go up.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will be looking for a second consecutive Triple Crown victory in the Preakness.

Muth, trained by Bob Baffert, is considered the favorite for the race.

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