Gulfport scoring the Bet on Sunshine. (Kurtis Coady/Coady Media)
Uncle Mo’s Multiple Stakes Winner and Twice G1-Placed Son Gulfport Joins Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Florida Roster for 2026 Breeding Season
TDN Rising Star brings elite pedigree and proven performance to Florida’s premier stallion roster and Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Florida-Bred Excellence program.
By Tandra Downs
MORRISTON, Fla. – Pleasant Acres Stallions proudly announces that Gulfport, multiple stakes winner and son of champion sire Uncle Mo, will join its distinguished Florida stallion roster for the 2026 breeding season for a $7500 fee.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Gulfport to Pleasant Acres Stallions,” said Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services. “His combination of elite pedigree, exceptional race performances, and that dominant TDN Rising Star debut makes him an exciting addition to our roster. Florida breeders are going to love what he brings to the table – speed, class, and the Uncle Mo influence that’s been so successful in the breeding shed.”
“This might well be the fastest horse we have ever had, and we have had some fast ones,” said Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.
Bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm, Gulfport commanded $275,000 from Pick View at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale. The colt made an immediate impact for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, debuting at Churchill Downs with a spectacular 7-length maiden victory that earned him ‘TDN Rising Star’ designation – becoming the 10th Rising Star for his successful sire Uncle Mo.
Gulfport’s next start was even more impressive. In the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, he demolished his competition by 12¼-lengths as the 1-5 favorite, recording the widest margin in the history of the six-furlong black-type event. His time of 1:09.25 was the second-fastest clocking in the race’s history at the time, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure – the co-second-highest number by a 2-year-old that year.
Gulfport continued his impressive campaign with a second-place finish in both the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes before capping his juvenile season with a third in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. His consistency carried forward at four, where he hit the board in all four starts – including winning the $300,000 Bet on Sunshine Stakes and placing second in the black-type Ring The Bell Stakes. At five, Gulfport added a third-place finish in the King Cotton Stakes to his accomplished resume.
Gulfport boasts an exceptional female family. He is out of Fame and Fortune, a winning full sister to Grade 1 winner Cross Traffic (Unbridled’s Song) and daughter of Multiple Grade 1 winner Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues). Stop Traffic was a remarkably consistent performer, finishing on the board in 26 of 35 starts with 12 victories from ages two to six, and proved equally successful as a broodmare by producing nine winners including several stakes winners.
Gulfport and @ErikAsmussen win The Bet on Sunshine Stakes! pic.twitter.com/7SzBDeIhh5
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 2, 2024
Gulfport’s third dam, two-time winner Save My Soul (I’ma Hell Raiser), produced Elusive Gold (Strike The Gold), dam of millionaire champion Cheongdam Dokki and Gulfstream Park track record-setting Multiple Grade Stakes Winner Gouldings Green. Elusive Gold is also the dam of stakes winner Filare L’oro – who produced millionaire multiple Grade 3 winners Silver Dust and Forza DI Oro –and is granddam of millionaire Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution.
Gulfport is by the legendary Uncle Mo – an exemplary talent on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. Uncle Mo announced his brilliance with a commanding 14 ¼-length maiden victory in his debut, then followed up by capturing the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes by 4 ¾-lengths in just his second start. He capped his juvenile campaign with a dominant 4 ¼-length triumph in the Grade 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, earning Eclipse Champion 2-year-old male honors for 2010. At three, he continued to win with a 3 ¾-length score in the Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park and 3-length victory in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap. He retired with more than $1.6 in earnings at the end of his 3-year-old season before embarking on a highly successful stallion career at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.
The transaction was brokered by The Stallion Company.
Gulfport (Uncle Mo) joins an impressive roster at Pleasant Acres Stallions including Champions Dream (Justify), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Mr Fisk (Arrogate), Neolithic (Harlan’s Holiday), Simplification (Not This Time), and Verifying (Justify) at the 220-acre farm located just northwest of Ocala. Pleasant Acres Stallions and Joe and Helen Barbazon have received many accolades for excellence, including the 2024 Florida Broodmare of the Year Award, 2021 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year for Neolithic, 2017 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year for Poseidon’s Warrior, 2017 DRF Florida-bred Beyer Award, 2009 Florida Breeder of the Year, 2009 Florida Broodmare of the Year, Breeder of the 2009 Florida Horse of the Year, and was ranked third in the nation for leading breeders in 2009 by average earnings per starter with 10 or more starters.
Gulfport, ridden by Erik Asmussen, ran down pacesetting favorite Champlin in the final strides to win Saturday’s $300,000 Bet On Sunshine @ChurchillDowns by a neck. Angkor, who closed late from the outside, was another neck back.
— Churchill Downs PR (@DerbyMedia) November 2, 2024
Recap and quotes: https://t.co/G4rDAEzEk3 pic.twitter.com/D0F8Q4sKqr
For information on Pleasant Acres Stallions, visit www.pleasantacresstallions.com. Pleasant Acres Stallions is located at 2153 S.E. HWY-41, Morriston, Florida 32668. Contact: Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services, 352-804-6618, christine@pleasantacresstallions.com.
