Gulfport Rockets to Bashford Manor Victory
Gulfport (2c Uncle Mo x Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled’s Song) proved that his maiden victory wasn’t a fluke on Monday when the juvenile won the Bashford Manor Stakes by an eye-catching 12 1/4 lengths.
The Diamond Creek Farm-bred was first out of the gate in the six-furlong race and blasted through his early fractions. Only one horse was able to stay with him until they hit the stretch and even that one folded as Brian Hernandez Jr. let Gulfport out a notch.
Gulfport stopped the clock in 1:09.26, the second fastest time in the 121-year history of the race.
“I think that was something very special,” Hernandez said. “He really did all of that on his own. I let him break at the rail and he took me right to the front. It was extremely impressive. He's a really nice colt and did everything so easy today.”
Trained by Steve Asmussen for William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm, the colt is now undefeated in two starts by combined 19 1/4 lengths.
Gulfport is the second stakes performer out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Fame and Fortune alongside Grade II-placed Favor. Fame and Fortune is out of the dual Grade I winner Stop Traffic, who also produced Grade I winner Cross Traffic and stakes winners Thirteen Arrows and Exodus in addition to stakes-placed Into My Soul and Bianco Tartufo.
Fame and Fortune also has a yearling Uncle Mo filly.
This is the seventh stakes winner and 22nd stakes performer of the year for Uncle Mo, putting him fourth among all general sires by stakes performers.