Coolmore joins Gulfport ownership in advance of Saratoga Special

The Coolmore connections of M.V. Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith have purchased an interest in the unbeaten Gulfport, who goes for his third straight victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

Gulfport’s owners include Corinne and William Heiligbrodt, Jackport Farm and Whispering Oaks. Gulfport, trained by Steve Asmussen, was a $275,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton summer yearling sale in July 2021.

At the conclusion of his racing career, Gulfport will join his sire, Uncle Mo, as a stallion at Coolmore America.

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“We are delighted to partner with William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Fam, Whispering Oaks Farms LLC on such an exciting son of Uncle Mo,” Magnier said. “His performance in the Bashford Manor was very special, and we think there’s a lot more to come.”

“Gulfport’s obviously a special talent with a stallion’s pedigree, and we feel he is easily comparable to the last three Hopeful winners and he will have a place at stud at Coolmore,” said Steve Asmussen, Gulfport’s trainer.

Asmussen has trained the last three Hopeful winners - Basin in 2019, Jackie’s Warrior in 2020 and Gunite in 2021. Should Gulfport run well Saturday, it is expected that he would be pointed to the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful here on Sept. 5.

Gulfport won his debut on June 10 at Churchill Downs by seven lengths. He came back 24 days later to win the Bashford Manor there by 12 1/4 lengths, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

In the Saratoga Special, a race Asmussen has won five times including in 2019 with Jackie’s Warrior, Gulfport will take on Damon’s Mound, a 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs on July 2 for trainer Michelle Lovell.

Also entered in the Saratoga Special were Owen’s Leap, runner-up to Gulfport in the Basford Manor; Super Chow, a debut winner on July 2 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jorge Delgado; and Valenzan Day, who finished ninth in the Sanford here on July 16.