The pace was too hot to handle in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 17, which was nothing but good news for Bullard as he closed like a freight train into the meltdown to emerge with an impressive victory.
The early lead turned into a three-horse duel as longshot Maximus outbroke his four rivals and cut over from the outside gate to the rail. Once in that spot, he was immediately hounded by Kalea Bay and McKinzie Street , initially losing the lead and dropping to third before rushing back up to take over through an opening quarter-mile in :21.63.
By the time the trio reached the three-eighths pole, Maximus and Kalea Bay were waving the white flag, leaving McKinzie Street to secure the half-mile in a blistering :43.93.
Meanwhile, a lack of early foot was beneficial for Bullard. Trailing several lengths behind the field early by the time they exited the seven-furlong chute and entered the backstretch, jockey Umberto Rispoli bided his time on the even-money favorite. With debut runner Madaket Road a target ahead of him, Rispoli began to uncoil his colt’s run outside the quarter pole.
“I was wishing (for a fast pace) before the race,” Rispoli said. “He was a little bit off the bridle in the beginning.”
Surging ahead of Madaket Road entering the stretch, Bullard blew past a tiring but valiant McKinzie Street and drew off to a 4 3/4-length victory. Madaket Road finished second 2 3/4 lengths ahead of McKinzie Street.
Bullard stopped the clock for seven furlongs in 1:22.55 and paid $4.20 to win.
Bullard pulls away from the competition in the Bob Hope Stakes
“I just think he is a horse that deserves a bit more distance,” Rispoli said. “He hacked, he moved, he gallops like a good horse—like a great horse. He is a horse who has shown us who he is only at his second start.
“He needs to figure out what is really going on with horse racing. Everything is about learning for him. Once he understands how this all really works, I think he is going to improve, improve, and improve. I don’t think it was his best today.”
If his best is yet to come, that is music to the ears of owners St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing, Three Chimneys Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds as they purchased the colt for $675,000 out of the Denali Stud consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has now earned back $105,000 through his first two starts.
Michael McCarthy’s trainee is quickly earning the distinction as one of the top closers in his class. During his Sept. 1 debut at Del Mar, he displayed the same late kick when going from last of seven to first, defeating Kalea Bay by 1 1/4 lengths. He also had a quick pace to chase that day, sitting behind fractions of :21.93 and :45.19 to complete six furlongs in 1:10.32.
McCarthy appeared to agree with Rispoli’s assertion that there is still more talent to be unveiled as he reflected on the colt’s workout schedule between races.
“He had four works. It would have been nice to have had five but he was able to get the job done,” McCarthy said.
Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys, Bullard is a son of their flagship stallion Gun Runner . Out of the unraced Warrior’s Reward mare Reve d’Amour , he is a half brother to stakes winner Mundaye Call .
Bullard is the 11th individual graded stakes winner sired by Gun Runner this season. Among the stallion’s success this year is Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone and grade 1 winners Gun Pilot , Society , and Vahva . He will stand the 2025 season at Three Chimneys for $250,000.
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