BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Mark Casse will send out Florida-bred Bouncer in the $300,000 Harrod’s Creek Saturday at Churchill Downs hoping the gelded son of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie builds on the two victories achieved in his last two starts. Owned by Gary Barber and Leonard Green’s D.J. Stables LLC, Bouncer is among seven 3-year-olds set to go seven furlongs in the Harrod’s Creek.
Bouncer was one-for-three as a juvenile after winning a maiden special weight by a length at Gulfstream in August. In his second start, he was eighth in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed won by Awesome Strong before finishing third in a second-level, $75,000 optional claiming won by Gran Slash at Gulfstream in October to finish the year.
But Bouncer has won three of four this year including a wire-to-wire victory in a state-bred allowance at Gulfstream on March 29 to start the year. After finishing second to Life Changer in a Belmont Park allowance in June, he won another allowance at Belmont Park while pressing the pace on July 8. He then produced a flag-to-finish triumph in the $100,000 Housebuster overnight handicap going seven furlongs at Colonial Downs last out on Aug. 12.
Bred by Helen C. Alexander, Bouncer is out of Kaiken, by First Samurai and has earned $193,190 in his seven career starts. That is just more than the $190,000 purchase price paid by D.J. Stable at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where he was consigned by Ocala Stud.
Bouncer is 5-1 on the morning line, has post four and Casse has given the riding assignment to Ricardo Santana Jr.
The 2-1 favorite in the Harrod’s Creek is Everso Mischievous for trainer Brad Cox.
The son of Into Mischief out of Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d’Oro has won two of four career starts with two seconds including a seven-furlong allowance race at Saratoga last out on Aug. 5. Everso Mischievous has earned $154,750 in his four career starts.
Everso Clever is owned by Qatar Racing LLC and Cristian Torres will ride from post six.
Todd Pletcher will saddle Mount Up in the Harrod’s Creek for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds.
A son of Army Mule out of Made Me Shiver, by Maclean’s Music has also won two with two seconds in four starts including a last out victory against allowance horses going a mile at Saratoga on Aug. 20.
Set at 7-2 in the program, Mount Up has career earnings of $154,750.
Emisael Jaramillo will ride Mount Up from post five.
Other contenders for the Harrod’s Creek include Bourbon Bash with jockey Jaime A. Torres, Francisco Arrieta has the mount on Determinedly, Loyal Company will have Declan Cannon in the saddle and Praetorian Guard will carry jockey James Graham.
