In the second of this new occasional series, Geir Stabell provides plenty of evidence to show that, despite losing his two latest races, there is one U.S. colt who could be a tough nut to crack for the Europeans in the big staying turf races later in the year.
Shippers from Europe are often dominant when it comes to North American turf races over further than a mile and a quarter, but this year the U.S. looks to have a strong home defence, and Gufo in particular could be capable bucking the trend.
The Christophe Clement-trained 4-year-old is not in the same class as Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Bricks And Mortar – not yet anyway – though that could all change when Gufo gets a proper test of stamina. He has been beaten on his two most recent starts, but each time he has been impressive despite being beaten.
Gufo, who captured the G1 Belmont Derby over a mile and a quarter before being a fast-closing third behind DomesticSpending and Smooth Like Strait in the G1 Hollywood Derby last year, made his seasonal debut in the G1 Man o'War Stakes back at Belmont Park on May 8.
Stretching out to 11 furlongs was obviously going to be to his liking, and the betting public were all over the son of Declaration Of War, making him the 3/2 favorite in an eight-runner field. American horseplayers do not appear to care much about weight, however, and since Gufo was set to carry 124lbs, giving weight all round, it was likely that he would need a career best to win after a layoff of more than five months.
He did produce better form than he showed at 3, only to lose the race by a nose to the enterprisingly ridden Channel Cat, with an in-form John Velazquez and 118lbs on his back.
The winner made the running and managed to hang on when Gufo came with a powerful charge from off the pace. Channel Cat ran really well but Gufo ran much better (see video below). It’s a shame these top-flight races aren’t all run at level weights. I have never really understood why that is so.
Gufo was most certainly the one to take out of this year’s Man o’ War, a race that has been won by high-class turf performers like Red Rocks, Gio Ponti (twice), Cape Blanco, Point Of Entry and Zhukova in recent years. His next start will probably come in the G1 Manhattan Stakes on Belmont day on Saturday, when Gufo could end up facing Channel Cat once more.
The distance will be a furlong shorter, but they will be carrying the same weight, and Gufo is reportedly set to race in blinkers. Let’s hope this rematch happens. Domestic Spending and Colonel Liam are also on course for the race. It should be an interesting contest.
Last year's G1 Hollywood Derby, run at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup venue Del Mar, also turned into a frustrating experience for Gufo’s team.
Nine furlongs and the short home straight counted heavily against his chance, and he impressed with his late kick, which got him up for third, beaten a head and a neck behind Domestic Spending and Smooth Like Strait (see video below).
The latter went on to win the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita four weeks later. Domestic Spending was given a rest and came back with an excellent win over Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational winner Colonel Liam in the G1 Turf Classic Stakes on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.
This is a smart group of progressive U.S.-based turf runners.
Gufo captured one of the most prestigious turf events for 3-year-olds in 2020, beating No Word in the Belmont Derby, a race somewhat depleted by the lack of international competition due to the pandemic.
It is not difficult to imagine this colt improving again when he gets the opportunity to race over a mile and a half and the Breeders’ Cup Turf must be his end-of-season target.
On his way there, Clement can plot his route via G1 contests like the United Nations at Monmouth Park, the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont and the Canadian International at Woodbine.
One could hardly have gleaned from his pedigree that Gufo possessed the stamina for such events.
His dam, Floy, a once-raced daughter of Petionville, was out of Risen Miss (Peteski). Out of a half-sister to champion juvenile Capote and top class turf runner Exceller, Risen Miss won four races on dirt and turf (5½ tp 8 furlongs).
Floy was a recognized broodmare well before Gufo came along, as she produced Hogy (Offlee Wild), a tough and durable warrior who won the G3 Canadian Turf Stakes as a 9-year-old. Hogy was mainly a closing sprinter up to that point, with 18 previous successes – including in the G3 Kentucky Turf Sprint. He was also placed twice in G2 sprints over the lawn at Keeneland. Although Hogy had previously won a G3 over a mile on dirt, the Canadian Turf was actually his first attempt at the distance on turf.