If Cool Bullet is running in a six-furlong race, then there’s a good chance that the Florida-bred gelding is going to fire a big shot.
The son of Red Bullet, bred at Adena Springs South in Williston, is 3-for-3 at the distance, and trainer Steve Margolis is expecting him to turn in another strong effort Sunday in the $200,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.
Cool Bullet made the most of his first trip to the Jersey Shore last month, winning the $93,000 Rumson Stakes by two lengths for his third stakes victory. He also won the $58,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds in December and the $50,000 Hansel Stakes at Turfway Park in March. All three of those races covered six furlongs.
“He’s been a solid horse for us, and he tries every time,” Margolis said. “We’re running him back in a month, and he has a win over the track. As good as he’s doing, we’re excited about running him.”
Cool Bullet was installed as a 3-1 choice on the morning line in a field of six 3-year-olds for the Jersey Shore. He’ll have Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard when he breaks from the No. 5 post. The jockey has gotten the mount in six of the horse’s nine starts. Cool Bullet has four wins and a pair of runner-up finishes for $170,894, making him the second-richest horse in the field.
Cool Bullet usually stalks the pace early in his races before making his move near the top of the lane, and Margolis expects him to employ that strategy again Sunday.
“I like his post, and Brian knows him, so we’re excited about it,” Margolis said. “A few of the horses inside of us have speed, so we’ll let a couple of those horses go and hopefully get a good tracking trip. It looks like they’re going to run a fast quarter and a fast half.”
The field also includes Out of Respect (5-1), Discreetly Mine (5-2), Partyallnightlong (8-1), Safe Trip (3-1) and the filly Christine Daae (4-1).
Discreetly Mine won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds in February. After finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, he returned last month to be second behind Florida-bred D’ Funnybone in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. He’s failed to hit the board in two starts at six furlongs but leads the field with $439,350 in earnings.
Out of Respect, who likely will compete for the early lead after starting from the rail, has been a part of the exacta in all five of his starts, with three wins. He most recently won an $82,700 allowance at Monmouth on June 13.
Partyallnightlong, another speedster, finished third in his career debut but has won two straight, including a 6 ¼-length tally in an $81,000 allowance at Monmouth on June 18.
Christine Daae stamped herself as a filly to watch by earning two wins at Gulfstream Park this winter by a combined 11 ½ lengths. She most recently finished second in the $94,000 Red Cross Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 5, just a nose behind Florida-bred Lady Alexander.
Safe Trip was ninth in his career debut but has won two straight, including a $75,000 optional claimer at Churchill Downs in May.
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Bill Denver Photo
