BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-breds have won the last two runnings of the six-furlong Alapocas Run at Delaware Park and a solid Sunshine State contingent of Buccherino, Sunny Breeze and Damon’s Mound try to extend the record Saturday. Seven 3-year-olds and older will vie for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse in the Alapocas Run, won by Lea Farms LLC’s Lightening Larry in 2023 and Stonehedge LLC’s homebred Dean Delivers last year.

Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino looks to build on his own streak in the Alapocas Run as he attempts to remain undefeated in his third start this year after returning from an 11-month lay-off. Trainer Alfredo Velazquez revealed after Buccherino’s last win in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park on May 26, that the 4-year-old son of Bucchero had suffered a minor foot injury in his last start of 2024, when third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob won by Florida-bred Bentornato with Sunny Breeze second.

 

He has been strong since his return, having won a conditioned, $100,000 optional claiming at Parx Racing on May 5 before winning the Mr. Prospector. That should come as no surprise as Buccherino has been consistent throughout his career, logging six wins with a second and three thirds in 12 starts and earning $317,500.

Happy Tenth purchased Buccherino for $75,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment of Sergio Centeno at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training. Buccherino is out of Bellimbusto, by First Dude and was bred by Centeno under the Blue River Bloodstock name.
(Buccherino’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)

Buccherino is the 8-5 morning line favorite and will be ridden by Paco Lopez from post six.

Damon’s Mound looks for his second consecutive added-money triumph having won the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18 in his last race.

 

Trained by William Mott for breeder Cliff Love and Michele Love, Damon’s Mound is another who returned this year off an extended time away from the races. The Sunshine Sprint was his first race since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu won by Florida-bred Speed Boat Beach at Santa Anita in December of 2023.

A graded stakes winner of the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx in 2023 and the Saratoga Special (G2) in 2022, Damon’s Mound has finished in the top two in seven of his 12 career starts, winning five. By Girvin out of San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll, Damon’s Mound has earned $723,800.

 

Damon’s Mound is 4-1 on the morning line and will be guided from post one by Junior Alvarado.

Sunny Breeze is the only one of the Florida-breds with experience over the Delaware Park surface having won his first two career starts there in May and July of last year. However, he’ll need to find his best form again after finishing sixth in a upper-level allowance won by Copper Tax going six furlongs at Delaware Park last out on May 21.

Sunny Breeze, a homebred for Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC, is by Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze out of Love My Sunshine, by Khozan. He has earned $199,330 from a consistent three wins, a second and a third from seven starts.

 

Jaime Rodriguez, who rode Dean Delivers to victory in last year’s Alapocas Run and was the jockey for Sunny Breeze in his first six races, will be in the saddle from post three. They are 6-1 in the program.

Others set for the Alapocas Run are My Handsome Man with Isaac Castillo named to ride, Full Moon Madness will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, Sir Wellington with jockey Carol Cedeno and Mychel Sanchez rides Counterspy.

Return to the June 12 issue of Wire to Wire