BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino emerged as the best of four Florida-breds among the six 3-year-olds in the $75,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint at Parx Racing on Saturday with a classy six-and-a-quarter-length win. It was the first career stakes victory for the Alfredo Velasquez-trained colt, who had finished third in two added-money contests in his two previous races.
Sent to the post as the 6-5 favorite in the six-and-a-half-furlong contest, Buccherino started from the rail and chased Florida-bred longshot Bernie’s Mitts through the first furlong with Florida-bred Sunny Breeze also gunning for the lead from the outside post.
Jockey Jose Lezcano then allowed Buccherino to sprint to the front down the backstretch where he increased his lead to a length-and-a-half through a quick :21.64 first quarter-mile as Bernie’s Mitts, Sunny Breeze and Maximus Meridius battled for second.
Maximus Meridius used an inside move to challenge Buccherino around the far turn and was nearly even at the head of the stretch before Lezcano cued Buccherino for another gear inside the three-sixteenths pole. Buccherino sped clear in the final furlong to finish in 1:16.15 on the fast track.
Maximus Meridius was second with Sunny Breeze three lengths back in third. Florida-bred Practically Dark, Lonesome Boy and Bernie’s Mitts finished in that order.
Buccherino is now undefeated in three races at Parx after breaking his maiden there in August of last year. He returned to Parx to start 2024 winning a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming by more than six lengths in March before going to Aqueduct for the $150,000 Gold Fever during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 5. He finished third behind winner Doncho in the Gold Fever before coming in third again in the $110,000 Jersey Shore won by Book ‘em Danno at Monmouth Park on July 19.
Bred in Florida by Blue River Bloodstock, Buccherino is by Bucchero out of Bellimbusto, by Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude. He is the first stakes winner for Bellimbusto, who has two winners from two starters. She also has an unnamed weanling filly by Ocala Stud stallion Colonel Liam and was bred to Pleasant Acres Stallions resident Verifying in 2024.
Happy Tenth Stable purchased Buccherino for $75,000 at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock. He has now earned $186,000 from four wins, a second and a third in nine outings.
