The last time Gulfport appeared in a stakes race at Churchill Downs, he won the 2022 Bashford Manor Stakes by 12 3/4 lengths. It’s been a long, winding road since then, but on Saturday he returned to stakes company and the Churchill Downs winner’s circle in the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes.
Gulfport ($16.72) bested Champlin who had defeated him last time out. Gulfport chased Champlin around the track before running him down in late stretch to win by a neck. Gulfport finished the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.97.
Grade 1-placed Angkor was another neck back in third. Bango, who was seeking to extend his Churchill Downs win record with a 13th local score, was fifth.
After winning his first two career starts in 2022, including the Bashford Manor, Gulfport went on to finish second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, second in the Grade 1 Hopeful, and third in the Grade 1 Champagne.
He made one start in the spring of his 3-year-old season before a hind-end injury sent him to the sidelines for more than a year.
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Gulfport won an allowance/optional-claiming race in June at Churchill, then remained locally to finish second to a quality foe in Champlin.
That primed him for a return to stakes company for William and Corrine Heligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm, Coolmore, and trainer Steve Asmussen. The conditioner’s son Erik Asmussen was in the irons.
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