Two-year-old colt Bullard soared to a Graded stakes win at Del Mar in his second career start Sunday, rallying from last to first to capture the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes.
The son of Gun Runner followed right up on a debut victory on September 1 at Del Mar for jockey Umberto Rispoli and trainer Michael McCarthy.
Bullard settled at the back of the pack behind a fast early pace in the seven-furlong Bob Hope. He responded for Rispoli to hit the front at the top of the stretch and kicked away to score by 4 3/4 lengths.
Umberto said, “I thought the pace was very fast, something that I was wishing before the race. And I know he was a little bit off the bridle in the beginning. I just think he is a horse that deserves a bit more distance. Look he hacked, he moved, he gallops like a good horse, like a great horse. He is a horse who has shown us who he is only at his second start. He needs to figure out what is really going on with horse racing. Everything is about learning, for him, once he understands how this all really works, I think he is going to improve, improve and improve. I don’t think it was his best today.”
McCarthy said, “When they were three across the track like that I felt pretty good. He had four works. It would have been nice to have had five but he was able to get the job done. Obviously, :43.4 (half mile) helped a little bit.”
West Point races Bullard in partnership with St. Elias Stable, Michael Talla and Three Chimneys Farm.
Bullard contributed West Point’s 23rd stakes win of 2024.
