Bucchero scores repeat win in Woodford Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bucchero came to Keeneland for the Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford Stakes a year ago as a 26-1 outsider and left as a winner. This year, expectations were different – with him starting as the 3-1 favorite in the race – although the result remained the same: another victory.

Sitting a favorable trip, unlike in his troubled fifth-place finish in the Turf Monster on Sept. 3 at Parx, Bucchero pounced from a stalking position, took command in midstretch, and had just enough to last over a hard-charging Will Call. He won by a half-length under Fernando De La Cruz, becoming the fourth horse to repeat in the Woodford.

The victory marked his first in eight starts since taking the Woodford in 2017, though all of those races came against strong company. Even in defeat, he gave his connections many highlights, running competitively against the world’s best when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last fall at Del Mar and when fifth in the Group 1 King’s Stand at Royal Ascot this summer.

“He’s very special to us,” said winning trainer Tim Glyshaw. “To have an Indiana-bred come in here for the second year in a row and win at Keeneland on the national stage, it’s just something we’re very proud of.”

A 6-year-old son of Kantharos carrying the colors of Ironhorse Racing Stable, Bucchero completed 5 1/2 furlongs on a “good” turf course in 1:04.04, paying $8.40. He is targeting a return to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at his home track, Churchill Downs.

Will Call closed from eighth to make a race of the Woodford, though his rally came too late. He passed third-place finisher Extravagant Kid by a half-length. Both horses are stakes winners this year, potentially with the qualifications to move forward to the Turf Sprint.

The Woodford, first run in 1997, produced a Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner in 2015 at Keeneland with Mongolian Saturday, who had been second in the Woodford. He returned to win the Woodford in 2016 before a ninth-place finish in the Turf Sprint that year at Santa Anita.