Buccherino and Paco Lopez win the $150,000 Parx Sprint Stakes. (Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
Paco Lopez scores four on the card
Tom Law/Parx Racing
BENSALEM, Pa.—Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino capped the stakes action on betPARX Pennsylvania Derby Day and a big day for jockey Paco Lopez with a victory in the $150,000 Parx Sprint Stakes Saturday at Parx Racing.
Lopez rode the 4-year-old son of Bucchero to a 1 1/2-length victory in the 6 ½-furlong stakes for his fourth win on the card. Buccherino, the 2-1 favorite in the field of nine, improved to 6-for-7 at Parx for trainer Alfredo Velazquez.
“I am very happy that he won. This horse shows me 150 percent heart,” said Velazquez. “He is a tough horse. He has been training so good for this. When he is good, like he was today, he keeps going. I am happy. I told my wife we will be celebrating tonight.”
The Parx Sprint was one of two stakes wins on the card for Lopez, who also guided Mad House to a 23-1 upset score in the Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes. He also won the first race on Star Sweeper and the sixth aboard Tap in Formation.
He was very comfortable. When I asked him to run, he gave me a big kick. They have done a very good job with this horse,”commented Lopez.
Full Moon Madness finished second in the Parx Sprint, with Maximus Meridius third and Damon’s Mound fourth. Buccherino won in 1:15.41 for his eighth win in 16 starts, boosting his earnings to $471,800.
