Month: June 2022

Uncle Mo Colt Romps To ‘Rising Star’-dom

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and partners appear to have another potential monster on their hands, as Gulfport (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song) ran away from his rivals to graduate by seven lengths at first asking at Churchill Downs to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star' and the 10th overall for his successful stallion.

Pounded into 1-2 favoritism with a best-of-63 half-mile from the gate in :46 flat at Keeneland on display, the $275,000 Fasig-Tipton July acquisition by Joe Pickerell and Courtney Roberts's Pick View LLC bounced well and improved from his wide draw to prompt the pace of 12-1 overlay Mataro (Maclean's Music x Lady Tak) to that one's outside through the opening quarter-mile in :22.35. Asked to claim that front-runner as they cornered into the stretch, Gulfport surged past and was ridden mostly hands and heels for the remainder, pulling clear with every one of his powerful strides while covering his final furlong in a strong :11.84. The Heiligbrodts also campaigned this sire's GI Forego S.-winning son Yaupon. The colt was cataloged as hip 2 for this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale, but was scratched from the event.

Gulfport is out of Fame and Fortune, a winning full-sister to GISW Cross Traffic, who was purchased by Gainesway Farm in foal to Uncle Mo's late son Laoban for $320,000 at this year's Keeneland January Sale. That produce sadly passed away. Fame and Fortune is also a half-sister to SW Thirteen Arrows (Indian Charlie) and SW Exodus (Medaglia d'Oro). Breeder Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farm was represented in last Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby by Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

A half-brother to this year's GII TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks third-place finisher Favor (Pioneerof the Nile), GSP, $116,500, Gulfport has a yearling full-sister.

6th-Churchill Downs, $119,718, Msw, 6-10, 2yo, 5f, :56.85, ft, 7 lengths.
GULFPORT, c, 2, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Stop Traffic, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser
Sales history: $275,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-L William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm & Whispering Oaks Farm LLC; B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.

The post Uncle Mo Colt Romps To ‘Rising Star’-dom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bella Sofia Hangs Tough In Bed O’ Roses Stakes

Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds' Bella Sofia led her three rivals from gate-to-wire in Friday's Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o' Roses Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot ($3.50) ran seven furlongs over the fast main track in 1:21.36.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez and ridden to victory by Luis Saez, Bella Sofia defeated runner-up Obligatory by a half-length on the wire.

“She's pretty quick,” Saez said. “Today, we just let her be happy. She ran from there pretty quick and was comfortable. I was a little worried about [No. 1, Obligatory]. I know she's coming flying at the end, but I had plenty of horse. That was easy for her. She finished like nothing. She came back like she didn't race. A lot of credit to Rudy. Last time, she was a little tired at the end off a layoff, but today, she won easy.”

Bella Sofia jumped out to the lead under Saez, setting measured fractions of :23.62 and :46.18 before pulling away from the field into the lane. Her main rival, Obligatory, was last of the four early but moved into second turning for home. Obligatory was cutting into the winner's lead with every jump, but she could not catch Bella Sofia before the wire.

Bella Sofia did not change leads in the stretch, but held off Obligatory by a half-length for the win. It was another 10 1/2 lengths back to Glass Ceiling, and Easy to Bless finished fourth and last.

“She looks like she got a little tired in the end and didn't switch leads,” said Rodriguez. “I know in the back of my mind we ran her back quickly, but she's just so special. I'm just going to enjoy this one right now. There's a couple races in the program for her. I just want to see how she comes back.

“When she broke very clean, and Luis went 23 [for the first quarter-mile], I said 'OK, now we're good.' Most of her races she finishes in 11 and change, so it's going to take a really good horse to get her. She's once in a lifetime and a dream come true.”

Bred in Kentucky by Two Tone Farms, Bella Sofia is out of the multiple stakes-placed Consolidator mare Love Contract. A $20,000 purchase at the 2020 OBS July sale, the filly did not make it to the races until May of her sophomore season. She won at first asking before finishing second in the listed Jersey Girl Stakes. In her fourth career start, Bella Sofia won the G1 Test at Saratoga. The filly ended her 2021 season with a fourth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but is undefeated thus far in 2022.

Bella Sofia's record now stands at six wins, one second from eight starts for earnings of $840,100.

Sofia Soares, co-owner and namesake of Bella Sofia, said: “It's amazing. Rudy [Rodriguez] has done a great job and she surprises us every time she races, always giving a little more. I'm grateful for my partners, and Bella, she's special just like I knew she was and I want to see where this takes us.”

The post Bella Sofia Hangs Tough In Bed O’ Roses Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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