Late-Running Gufo Targets Breeders' Cup Turf

Boasting a 53.8% win rate, a 100% in-the-money record, and $1.2 million in earnings through 13 starts, Otter Bend Stables' Gufo  would be most owners' horse of a lifetime. Remarkably, he is the first horse for owner and co-breeder Stephen Cainelli.

The 4-year-old late-running son of Declaration of War  will face a tough international field Nov. 6 in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

Cainelli bred the colt, a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Hogy , with his friend John Little. He purchased Little's share of the now 4-year-old colt and races him under the Otter Bend Stables banner.

Trainer Christophe Clement developed Gufo into the winner of five stakes, including two grade 1 scores. He earned his Turf berth with a victory in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course.

Clement's longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul has handled Gufo at Del Mar this week. On the morning of Nov. 4, Lorieul sent Gufo out to gallop 1 1/4 miles.

"He looked good out there, powerful and strong," Lorieul said. "He stood well at the wire. We schooled him (Wednesday) and he was very good."

Even with his explosive, off-the-pace running style, Gufo sometimes presented problems for his jockeys. Joel Rosario is the regular rider now, figuring out positioning and timing. 

"He's got a great turn of foot to finish, but this year maybe not so much," Lorieul said. "We added blinkers, which helps Joel get him a little bit closer in races. Does it take his finish a little bit away? I don't know. But he's very consistent and tries every time."

Gufo faces the biggest challenge of his career in the $4 million Turf, a race often dominated by European runners.

"It's a tough task, obviously," Lorieul said. "It's the best of the best at the end of the year. It was a logical spot. He's one of the top three turf horses in the U.S. Why not?"

In other news from the Turf, Southern California-based Acclimate  figures to set the pace and that's just fine with trainer Phil D'Amato.  

"We learned something about him the last time we ran in this race (finishing ninth in 2019) ... don't try to get too cute with him. We tried to rate him and it didn't work. He's got one fast gear, so we're just going to let him run and go as fast and as far as he'll take us." D'Amato said, "If anyone gets too close to us early, they'll be going too fast."