Boppy O #1 with Isaac Castillo riding won the $100,000 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park June 3, 2023. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
Son of Bolt D’Oro ‘In Good Order’ Saturday’s Sunshine Turf
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Gary Barber and D J Stable LLC’s Boppy O figures to be well acquainted with his surroundings when the veteran stakes performer makes his 10th career start at Gulfstream Park in Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Turf.
The 5-year-old son of Bolt D’Oro debuted at Gulfstream May 20, 2022, with a victory at five-furlongs on dirt, but he would show a distinct preference for turf two starts later when he captured the With Anticipation (G2) at Saratoga. Boppy O, who also collected a second stakes victory in the 2023 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park, has returned to Gulfstream on several occasions, placing in four stakes on turf.
Although he’s had some close calls, he will be seeking his first win at Gulfstream since his debut victory in the Sunshine Turf, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older Florida-breds that will co-headline Saturday’s card with the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint, a six-furlong dash for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up.
‘He’s a hard-knocker. He tries hard,” said Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “When things set up for him, he’s tough.”
Boppy O turned in a subpar performance in last year’s Sunshine Turf, in which he finished fifth before heading to the sidelines for nine months. Formerly owned by John Oxley and Breeze Easy LLC, he was sold to his current connections and remained in Casse’s stable. Casse addressed ‘a few little issues’ before Boppy O returned to action at Gulfstream with a second-place finish in an optional claiming allowance on turf in October. Boppy O came back to finish second in his two subsequent starts, including the $100,000 St. Augustine Handicap last time out.
“He’s come back strong,” Casse said. “He is in good order.”
Casse also entered Live Oak Plantation’s Victory Achieved in the Sunshine Turf but the highly promising 4-year-old son of Street Sense’s status for Saturday’s co-feature has yet to be determined.
“I’m not 100 percent sure he’s going to run in there. We’re going to look at it and talk about it,” said Casse, whose decision will be made following talks with Live Oak Plantation’s Charlotte Weber.
Victory Achieved is coming off three impressive victories in a row over Woodbine’s Tapeta course, all accomplished in front-running fashion. The homebred colt had run twice over Gulfstream’s turf course to launch his career early last year before returning to the races at Woodbine following a four-month break. He encountered early trouble in both Gulfstream efforts, a six-place finish in his debut and an encouraging third-place finish.
“He’s a horse that the Live Oak team has always been high on,” Casse said. “He wasn’t as successful as we had hoped early on, but since he’s come back, he’s been just awesome.”
Edwin Gonzalez has the return call on Boppy O, while Dylan Davis is scheduled to ride Victory Achieved for the first time.
Jeffrey Cole’s Adios Cole enters the Sunshine Turf in good form. The Sam Wilensky-trained 4-year-old won a mile optional claiming allowance at Remington Park. The son of Adios Charlie finished third in the Showing Up at Gulfstream and was fourth an optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs, both races contested at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Tyler Gaffalione is scheduled to ride Adios Cole for the first time.
John Rowe’s Lord Eddard Stark will cut back from two miles to 1 1/16 miles for the Sunshine Turf while coming off a triumph in the H. Allen Jerkens. The Joe Orseno-trained 7-year-old gelding is winless in five starts at Saturday’s distance but has won two of four starts over the Gulfstream turf course.
Leonel Reyes has the return mount on Lord Eddard Stark.
Donald Ming’s Ninja Star brings a record of consistency into the Sunshine Turf, having finished in the money in five of his last six starts, including a pair of victories. Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. is slated to ride the homebred son of Gary D for the first time.
BC Racing LLC’s Prevent, Lean Entertainment LLC’s Treasure King, Abarrio Stable LLC’s If Not for Luck, and NBS Stable’s Anamnestic round out the field.
