Gufo likely to get another shot at Highland Chief in Manhattan

ELMONT, N.Y. – Highland Chief and Gufo, the one-two finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War at Belmont Park, are likely to meet again in next month’s Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes on the June 11 Belmont Stakes card, their connections said.

Highland Chief, making just his third start in 19 months, used his tactical speed to his advantage, getting the jump on closers Gufo and Yibir to win the Man o’ War by a length at 19-1, the longest price on the board. It was Highland Chief’s first win since a victory in a listed race at Ascot in June 2020 and his third win from 12 starts.

While a return trip to Ascot had been discussed earlier this year with the owners, trainer Graham Motion said, “I think it’s more likely we’ll keep him over here. He can campaign in these races. He’s a fresh horse.”

Highland Chief, a son of Gleneagles owned and bred by Fitriani Hay, won at the Manhattan distance of 1 1/4 miles in that Ascot race.

Highland Chief, who gave jockey Trevor McCarthy his first Grade 1 stakes victory, earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the Man o’ War victory.

Gufo, ridden by Joel Rosario, finished second in the Man o’ War for the second year in a row. At 124 pounds, Gufo as well as Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir were each conceding six pounds to Highland Chief.

“Gufo ran a nice race,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “Maybe he moved a touch too early because [Yibir] moved early and Joel didn’t want to be boxed in. Well done to the winner – he beat us.”

Yibir, who finished a neck behind Gufo in third, was expected to ship back to trainer Charlie Appleby’s England yard. He could return to the United States later this year for the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Aug. 27 at Saratoga.

Rougir scores another for Brant

When Rougir made a triumphant 2022 debut winning Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay Stakes by three lengths, it was the 10th graded win of the year for owner Peter Brant. Brant owns Rougir with Michael Tabor and M.V. Magnier.

Rougir joined Bleecker Street, Virginia Joy, Speak of the Devil, Regal Glory, and In Italian to win a graded turf stakes this year for Brant.

“Good year so far,” said Chad Brown, who trains all those runners for Brant.

Brown said that Rougir, Bleecker Street, and Virginia Joy would all be considered for the New York Stakes on June 10, though he would likely just run two of the three. Bleecker Street is unbeaten in six starts, including three graded stakes this year,

Brown said what he was most pleased about regarding Rougir is how she did during the winter at Payson Park after being bought by Brant for about $3.3 million at auction in Europe in December. He noted that Rougir and Speak of the Devil, who won the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 7 at Churchill Downs, both acclimated well.

“They put a lot of weight on, their coats looked fantastic,” Brown said. “They did everything you want to do for that winter break at Payson Park.”

Brown said Rougir showed the same turn of foot in the Beaugay that she had shown in the morning and he expects her to improve at longer distances. The New York, a Grade 1, $750,000 race, is run at 1 1/4 miles.

Brown said that Speak of the Devil and Regal Glory, winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in April, will point to the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 11. Regal Glory worked five furlongs in 1:02.12 over Belmont’s turf on Sunday.

Bella Sofia in no hurry

With the major targets for Bella Sofia later in the year, the 4-year-old filly who narrowly won Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap will likely get plenty of time before she makes her second start of 2022, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said.

Bella Sofia, last year’s Grade 1 Test winner, nosed out sixtime stakes winner Frank’s Rockette in the Vagrancy, Bella Sofia’s first start since last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Both Bella Sofia and Frank’s Rockette earned 100 Beyer Speed Figures.

Rodriguez said Bella Sofia looked good Sunday morning, but did leave a little feed. Rodriguez said he would talk to the bevy of owners of Bella Sofia, but he did say it was unlikely she would run back in the Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o’ Roses here June 10.

“If she won by 10, comfortable, maybe, but yesterday she ran hard from the gate,” Rodriguez said.

Part-owner Lizzy Imperio said in a post-race interview Saturday that the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap on July 27 at Saratoga could be the next spot. That could be a prep for the Grade 1 Ballerina, which is her main summer objective, on Aug. 28. The ultimate objective for Bella Sofia is the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland in November.

Trainer Bill Mott said that Frank’s Rockette, who earned her first triple-digit Beyer in her 26th start, could be considered for the Bed o’ Roses, though he does plan on running Obligatory in that spot. Obligatory won the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

“She ran her heart out,” Mott said of Frank’s Rockette. “She ran super.”

Drafted escapes doghouse

Drafted got himself back into the good graces of his handlers Saturday with his victory in the Grade 3 $150,000 Runhappy Stakes.

About three weeks ago on the pony track, Drafted unseated exercise rider Lara Duggan, who suffered a concussion.

“There’s no malice in him,” said trainer David Duggan, Lara’s husband. “He’s a likeable rogue.”

There was more to like about Drafted after he won his second stakes in his last three starts. In February, he won the Grade 3 Toboggan before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap. David Duggan said he will maintain realistic expectations for Drafted going forward, not looking to hunt big game.

“We’ll leave everything open and try and stay away from your Jackie’s Warrior and those horses,” Duggan said. “We know where we belong and we’ll try to keep him there.”

There are two other sprint stakes at this meet, though the Grade 2, $300,000 True North on June 10 could attract Jackie’s Warrior. Belmont also has the Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud on July 2.

Drafted, an 8-year-old gelding by Field Commission, improved his record to 8-2-3 from 27 starts and now has earnings of $939,193.