BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Cliff and Michele Love’s Damon’s Mound became the 190th Florida-bred millionaire during the 23rd running of the Florida Cup at Tampa Bay Downs Sunday, winning the $110,000 NYRABets Sprint by a half-length with regular rider Junior Alvarado up. Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, Damon’s Mound earned $70,000 of the $110,000 purse to push his career bankroll to $1,018,405. The winner’s share included a $10,000 bonus for Damon’s Mound as eligible for the Florida Sire program.
The 6-year-old son of Girvin defeated five other Florida-bred 4-year-olds and older, covering six furlongs in 1:08.88, just .21 of a second off the 1:08.67 track record set by Florida-bred It’s Me Mom in the 2012 edition of the Sprint.
Damon’s Mound broke like a shot from post five but was joined on the lead by Chrome Ghost with Nothingsubtle and graded stakes-winner Flood Zone chasing together from a length back. Damon’s Mound and Chrome Ghost were heads apart through splits of :22.29 and :44.86 before Chrome Ghost got a half-length edge a furlong out. But Damon’s Mound fought back in the final furlong to win with Chrome Ghost holding second, a length-and-a-half ahead of Flood Zone in third. Classic of Course was fourth followed by Nothingsubtle and El Principito.
Damon’s Mound paid $3.20 to win.
It was the third win in the last four races, all at six furlongs, for Damon’s Mound, going back to a half-length victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct in November. He then won his second straight Sunshine Sprint versus Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on January 17 before finishing second to Jack’s Promise on February 21 in the $105,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (Listed).
Damon’s Mound improved his career ledger to eight wins with three seconds and two thirds in 20 starts. He also counts victories in the 2023 Gallant Bob (G3) and 2022 Saratoga Special (G2) among his graded stakes wins.
He is out of the Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll, also bred by Cliff Love. She has two winners from four starters and six foals including an unnamed 2-year-old Florida-bred colt by Roadster that recently sold for $425,000 to Lee Ackerly Racing out of the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment at the OBS March Sale. San Antonio Stroll has an unnamed yearling full brother to Damon’s Mound and was bred to Girvin again in 2025.
