Sent to post as the odds-on 1-5 favorite, Gulfport lived up to the hype in the 121st running of the $173,000 Bashford Manor Monday at Churchill Downs.
The 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt broke fast from the gate and widened his lead down the stretch en route to a 12 ¼-length demolish job over Owen's Leap and Andthewinneris while clocking six furlongs in 1:09.25 on closing day of the 42-day Spring Meet.
The winning margin was the largest in the storied history of six-furlong juvenile sprint, surpassing Kantharos' 9 ½-length romp in 2010. Additionally, it was the second-fastest clocking, only behind Kodiak Kowboy's 1:09.15 stakes record in 2007.
Gulfport gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his record-extending seventh win in the race and clinched his 26th Churchill Downs training title (25-23 wins over Brad Cox).
In addition to Gulfport, Kantharos, and Kodiak Kowboy, Asmussen won the Bashford Manor with Lunarpal (2004), Cinco Charlie (2014), Sir Truebadour (2018) and Cazadero (2020).
Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the winner for owners Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt (who won the race for a record fourth time), Terry Green's Jackpot Farm and Carrol Castille's Whispering Oaks Farm.
“We're so grateful for all of our owners to have horses like Gulfport. He's been extremely talented from an early stage and has shown us a lot of ability,” Asmussen said.
Breaking from the rail in the field of six 2-year-olds, Gulfport displayed an explosive turn of foot out of the gate and clocked the first quarter mile in a quick 21.65 as Simply Super chased about a length back in an attempt to keep up. Leaving the turn in :45.07,
Gulfport spurted clear by two lengths and glided down the homestretch to prove his superiority.
“I think that was something very special,” Hernandez said. “He really did all of that on his own. I let him break at the rail and he took me right to the front. It was extremely impressive. He's a really nice colt and did everything so easy today.”
Gulfport's triumph was worth $107,070 and increased his bankroll to $176,530 with a perfect record in two starts. His debut win came June 10 at Churchill Downs, a five-furlong maiden special weight he won by seven lengths.
A $275,000 yearling buy from Eaton Sales last July at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale, Gulfport is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fame and Fortune. He was bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm.
Gulfport returned $2.40 for the victory.
Simply Super, Stayhonor Goodside, and Mr. Gordy completed the order of finish.
“Today, when he broke from the rail, Brian got him into the perfect position on the lead and he never looked back,” Asmussen said.
First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.
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