Precocious Juveniles Vie in Bashford Manor, Debutante
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Photo: Coady Photography
Gulfport wins his debut at Churchill Downs
Fireworks at Churchill Downs on the Fourth of July could come from 2-year-old racehorses in action and not in the skies overhead.
Two of three stakes there on the holiday, the $175,000 Bashford Manor Stakes and the $175,000 Debutante Stakes, are six-furlong races for juveniles. Six males compete in the Bashford Manor, while seven fillies race in the Debutante.
The Bashford Manor, downgraded from grade 3 to listed status for 2022, is headed by debut winners Gulfport and Andthewinneris . The former pressed the pace before drawing off to score by seven lengths in a five-furlong dirt race at Churchill Downs June 10 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, while the latter rallied from ninth to win by two lengths first out at Keeneland April 28 in a 5 1/2-furlong turf race.
Gulfport, owned by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm, is by Uncle Mo out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fame and Fortune . He is a half brother to Favor , a 3-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile who ran third in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) earlier this year.
Gulfport sizzled five furlongs on a fast track at Churchill Downs in :56.85, earning him a 96 Equibase Speed Rating, the third-highest such figure by a juvenile this year in racing through June 29.
Susan Moulton's Andthewinneris, trained by Wayne Catalano, is by Oscar Performance , a four-time grade 1 victor on turf, out of the Scat Daddy mare Run Like the Boss , a winner on grass and dirt.
Andthewinneris has trained swiftly on the Churchill Downs main track in recent weeks, topped by a :46 4/5 half-mile bullet workout June 18.
Owen's Leap , Mr. Gordy , Stayhonor Goodside , and Simply Super round out of the field. No horse in the lineup has made more than two starts.
Asmussen also has one of the favorites in the Debutante in Stephen Herriage's Empire of My Own , who, like Gulfport, triumphed June 10 at Churchill Downs. Making her second start, she pushed the early leader before moving to the front and ultimately pulling ahead by 1 3/4 lengths at the end of a five-furlong race.
She is by Classic Empire , who took the 2016 Bashford Manor in securing a championship as the outstanding 2-year-old male of that year.
Out of the stakes-winning Saintly Look sprinter In a Jif , Empire of My Own is a half sister to current graded-placed 3-year-old sprinter Cogburn (Not This Time ).
The Debutante seems more contentious than the Bashford Manor with at least three or four fillies appearing of comparable talent.
Wonder Wheel and Les Bon Temps both closed to win in their debuts going shorter distances and appear well suited to additional ground, and Crackalacking dominated a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race April 21 at Keeneland, rolling by five lengths over next-out turf winner Grand Oak . Grand Oak ran 18th in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) during Royal Ascot June 15.
Churchill Downs, Monday, July 04, 2022, Race 6Entries: Bashford Manor S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Gulfport (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Steven M. Asmussen
4/5
2
2Owen's Leap (KY)
Edgar Morales
120
Thomas M. Amoss
8/1
3
3Andthewinneris (KY)
James Graham
120
Wayne M. Catalano
5/1
4
4Mr. Gordy (KY)
Gerardo Corrales
120
John A. Hancock
12/1
5
5Stayhonor Goodside (ON)
Florent Geroux
120
Mark E. Casse
6/1
6
6Simply Super (MD)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Michael J. Maker
7/2
Churchill Downs, Monday, July 04, 2022, Race 7Entries: Debutante S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Crackalacking (KY)
Ferrin Peterson
120
Sarah Hamilton
7/2
2
2Eyes of Gold (KY)
Colby J. Hernandez
118
Larry W. Demeritte
20/1
3
3Wonder Wheel (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Mark E. Casse
7/2
4
4Sabra Tuff (LA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Dallas Stewart
8/1
5
5Les Bon Temps (NY)
Florent Geroux
120
Norm W. Casse
5/2
6
6Frango Electrico (KY)
Rogelio Miranda
120
Ismael Bahena
30/1
7
7Empire of My Own (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
120
Steven M. Asmussen
9/5