Sleepy Eyes Todd Draws Away to Win Gus Fonner Stakes
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Photo: Brad Mellema
Horses race in front of an empty grandstand at Fonner Park
Thumbs Up Racing's Sleepy Eyes Todd burst from the starting gate in the $54,500 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes April 29 and was never threatened by his eight rivals. He drew off to win by 6 1/2 lengths under jockey Quincy Hamilton in front of an empty grandstand at Fonner Park, which is conducting live racing without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Off as the 7-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile feature for 3-year-olds and up, Sleepy Eyes Todd took command in the three-turn race and set fractions of :23.60, :47, and 1:12.20 through six furlongs. The leading margin continued to grow as the 4-year-old Paddy O'Prado colt rounded the final turn and burst down the home stretch. He hit the wire in 1:44.40 on a fast track.
"I only had one set of instructions, and that was to let the speed go and sit behind it—that's what I was told to do—but the horse was pretty keen early, and I guess maybe I didn't outsmart myself that time," Hamilton said.
Blue Harbor, Mr. Tickle, and Fight On got up to complete the superfecta.
Sleepy Eyes Todd, trained by Miguel Silva, scored his first stakes victory in his 3-year-old finale, rallying from fifth to win the Dec. 25 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. He returned this year on the grass in the Jan. 26 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Race Park but faded to last after setting the pace, then ran sixth in the Feb. 15 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
"I think he just needed a couple months to regroup," said owner David Cobb of Thumbs Up Racing. "I think that turf race probably wasn't the best idea I ever made. I'll tell you what, I believe in that kid right there, Quincy Hamilton, and of course I love my trainer. He's been with me through thick and thin. It's been a tough run, but thank God we got a big win at Fonner Park."
Sleepy Eyes Todd was bred in Kentucky by Two Hearts Farm and Kristen Goncharoff out of the Wild Rush mare Pledge Mom. The gray or roan colt was consigned by Legacy Bloodstock as a weanling at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where Jonathan Wong purchased him for $9,000. With five wins and a second in 10 starts, he has earned $240,765 for Cobb.