Bop breaks course record on Gulf turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A pair of Maryland invaders stole the show in south Florida, where Bop outlasted Take Achance on Me to post a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Bop also set a track record, covering five furlongs on the turf in 55.10 seconds to break Texas Glitter's old mark of 55.60.

Bop ($8.80), idle since finishing fifth as the favorite in Keeneland's Nureyev Stakes on Oct. 4, broke well and quickly established an early lead. He held off a bid from True Love's Secret around the turn, then withstood a closing surge from Take Achance on Me.

A claim of foul by jockey Kaymarie Kreidel, aboard Take Achance on Me, against the winner for alleged interference into the far turn was quickly dismissed.

Third-place finisher Jeb's Wild was well-placed early and finished a neck behind Take Achance on Me.

Lord Abounding, making his first start since being claimed for a record $150,000 on March 22, raced forwardly, then weakened through the stretch to finish a disappointing sixth as the 2-1 favorite.

Bop, a three-time stakes winner on grass in 2002, is trained by Michael Trombetta for the Folly Quarter Stable.

"My trip was awesome," said winning jockey Jozbia Santana. "He broke good, ducked in a little to the inside, then I straightened him out and let him go. That was pretty much it. I had a push button ride after that."