Gufo Secures First Top-Level Win in Belmont Derby
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Gufo rolls home to win the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park
Otter Bend Stables' consistent 3-year-old Gufo turned in another strong performance to win the $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park, his first top-level victory.
The Declaration of War colt trained by Christophe Clement has now won five of seven starts and placed in the other two.
"He won well. I thought he had a great trip from Junior (Alvarado), and when he asked him to quicken, he really quickened well in the stretch. He's a good horse," Clement said. "If you look at all his races this year, he's been running well all year round. I know he got beat last time (second in the Saratoga Derby Invitational), but he actually ran a winning race when you look back at it."
Prior to the Aug. 15 Saratoga Derby, Gufo won the July 4 Kent Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park and the May 2 English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
In the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby, Gufo was tucked inside and was sixth early as Todd Pletcher stablemates Mo Ready and No Word showed the way. Mo Ready set fractions of :24.67, :50.61, and 1:15.56 through six furlongs, at which point Gufo had moved up to fourth. Mo Ready ran a mile a in 1:39.26 but was down to a head advantage in the stretch.
No Word had just grabbed the lead when Gufo rolled past the frontrunners on the outside to complete the distance in 2:02.25 on firm turf. Gufo won by a length over No Word, and Mo Ready was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, holding on by three-quarters of a length over Ajourneytofreedom.
Gufo survived a stewards' inquiry before entering the winner's circle, with stewards reviewing when he took off in front of Moon Over Miami in the home stretch.
"One thing that he gives you quick is the movement to left and right," Alvarado said. "He caught me by surprise there and I tried to correct him, but he's just very quick when he does that. He did it with Johnny (Velazquez) once, but mentally he was prepared. They still didn't catch me. I think it was a little clear enough over the horse. I was moving forward at that point. I was pretty happy with the way he ran today.
"After that, he was completely fine. He focused and was very straightforward after that. He galloped out and finished up strong. He could have easily gone another eighth of a mile."
The Belmont Derby awarded Gufo an automatic berth in the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. Clement said he would check with the owner and see how Gufo comes out of Saturday's race before making a decision on the Breeders' Cup, though he also noted Del Mar has the Nov. 28 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at 1 1/8 miles.
Gufo, who has earned $415,010, was bred in Kentucky by John Little and Stephen Cainelli out of the Petionville mare Floy, who also produced millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Hogy. Floy's last foal is the unraced 2-year-old Tourist filly Sisi. She was reported bred this year to Preservationist .