Forever Souper catches Souper Blessing in Sunshine Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Sunday’s $75,000 Sunshine Turf at Gulfstream Park turned out to be a “Souper” race for trainer Michael Trombetta.

Trombetta sent out the first two finishers in the restricted stakes for Florida-breds on the grass, Forever Souper running down stablemate Souper Blessing to register a one-length victory while making his stakes debut in the race.

The win was the fifth in 12 career starts for Forever Souper who, like the runner-up, was bred by his owner Live Oak Plantation. Forever Souper came into the race off a second-place finish, beaten a nose by Candidate, in an open allowance race on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs four weeks earlier. Forever Souper was re-uniting Sunday with jockey Paco Lopez, who had guided him to back-to-back allowance wins this summer at Monmouth Park.

Forever Souper broke a step slow, but recovered to race well placed while saving ground for the opening six furlongs. Lopez angled him out toward the center of the track to commence his bid into the stretch, Forever Souper joining his stablemate at midstretch before edging away at the end.

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Souper Blessing was facing older horses for just the second time on Sunday after defeating 3-year-olds in the Tropical Park Derby here on Dec. 23. Souper Blessing attended the pace of defending champion Roaring Forties, stuck his head in front near the furlong grounds, could not match strides with the winner when challenged but held off a late surge from the rail-skimming Space Runner to prove second-best.

Roaring Forties finished a tiring fourth, followed by Boppy O and the 6-5 favorite Me and Mr. C, who checked home a disappointing sixth and last.

Forever Souper paid $11.60 after completing 1 1/16 miles over the firm going in 1:40.01.

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