Gulfstream Park: Ribo Bobo remains red-hot

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When it appeared that Sunday’s $88,500 Caixa Eletronica Stakes was in jeopardy of not filling, trainer Jason Servis began considering alternatives for his win machine, Ribo Bobo. The list of options spanned the widest of possible spectrums, from a $6,250 starter allowance race in New York to a trip to Dubai for the $2 million Golden Shaheen.

Fortunately for Servis, he was able to toss that list after the racing office hustled a field of six for the overnight stakes. The Caixa Eletronica ultimately scratched down to five starters, with the popular Ribo Bobo holding off his only serious challenger, the much-improved Dad’z Laugh, by a half-length under very confident handling by jockey Paco Lopez to register his 12th victory from his last 13 starts.

Servis has managed Ribo Bobo to perfection since reclaiming the 6-year-old son of Louis Quatorze for $6,250 in the interest of Rob Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable here last winter. Ribo Bobo suffered his lone setback during his recent streak at the hands of Ben’s Cat in Penn National’s Fabulous Strike Handicap on Nov. 27. He is 3 for 3 during the current meet, including victories in the Claiming Crown Express and the Sunshine Millions Sprint.

“He’s an amazing horse,” Servis said. “He looks so good because I really don’t have to do much with him between races. We were really careful picking out spots the first five, six races we had him last year, and after that, his confidence level just got so high. He got on the bridle at the half-mile pole a little today, and I kind of wasn’t happy about that. But I’ll talk to Paco a little bit, and we’ll figure it out.”

Servis said Ribo Bobo could come back in the $100,000 Sir Shackleton Stakes on March 29.

While Ribo Bobo won’t be going to Dubai, Servis will with his turf specialist Tightend Touchdown, whom he is pointing for the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on March 29.

Tightend Touchdown was second, beaten a half-length by defending champion Mizdirection, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in his 2013 finale but is coming off a disappointing 2014 debut, an eighth-place finish as the even-money favorite in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on Feb. 1.