BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Damon’s Mound and Buccherino, both veterans of the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing, return to the Bensalem oval Saturday for the $150,000 Parx Sprint along with Bernie’s Mitts to make a trio of Sunshine natives in the six-and-and-half-furlong test.
Damon’s Mound won the 2023 version of the Gallant Bob at Parx while Buccherino was third last year in Bentornato’s Gallant Bob. Bernie’s Mitts is based at Parx Racing with trainer Jordan Bullock but makes his first appearance in a black-type race since finishing sixth in last year’s $75,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint at Parx won by Buccherino.
Tagged as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday, Damon’s Mound invades from New York where he was third in his last start, an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming won by Little Ni going six-and-a-half furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 9.
The Bill Mott-trained son of Girvin will face some familiar foes among the large field of 13 3-year-olds and older.
In June at Delaware Park, Damon’s Mound was third behind winner and Parx Sprint entrant Full Moon Madness and runner-up Buccherino in the $100,000 Alapocas Run going six furlongs. A winner of the Sunshine Sprint for Florida-breds in January at Gulfstream Park, Damon’s Mound was also fourth in the Grade 2 Vanderbilt won by Book ‘em Danno at Saratoga on July 19.
Damon’s Mound has won five with two seconds and two thirds in 15 career starts and has banked $773,200 in career earnings for breeder Cliff Love of Friendswood, Tex., who owns the 5-year-old bay with wife Michele. Damon’s Mound is out of San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll.
Luis Saez will ride Damon’s Mound from post 11.
Buccherino looks for his third stakes victory of the year after winning the $75,000 State Representatives Sprint at Parx on Aug. 19 and the $100,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park on June 14. In two starts between were the Alapocas Run and a fourth in the $102,000 Wolf Hill Stakes sprinting on the Monmouth Park turf on July 19.
Buccherino is by Bucchero out of Bellimbusto, by First Dude and was bred in Florida by Sergio Centeno’s Blue River Bloodstock located in Morriston, Fla.
He has seven wins, two seconds and three thirds in 15 career starts while earning $386,600 for owner Happy Tenth Stable. Happy Tenth purchased him for $75,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Buccherino has drawn post nine and will have Paco Lopez up.
Bernie’s Mitts has one victory of nine starts this year, a first level, $16,000 optional claiming over a muddy and sealed six-and-a-half furlongs at Parx in February. He has improved in seven starts since including a second to Sprint foe Dropline in a second level, $50,000 optional claiming at Parx on Sept. 1.
Owned by Nelson E. Berberena, Bernie’s Mitts makes his third start from the Bullock barn. By Double Diamond Farm’s First Dude, Bernie’s Mitts is out of Precious Lady, by Songandaprayer and was bred by Julie Ann Jackson of Cold Springs, N.Y. The 4-year-old gelding has won two with three seconds and three thirds in 15 career starts with earnings of $99,290.
Bernie’s Mitts is 15-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Luis Rivera from post seven.
Rounding the field are Full Moon Madness with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, Dropline with jockey Abner Adorno, Hold My Bourbon will have Tyler Gafalione up, Twenty Four Mamba has Kendrick Carmouche taking the call, Mychel Sanchez is named on Maximum Meridius, Silvestre Gonzalez will guide Bump N Run, Antonio Fresu has assignment on Carmel Chip, Going Up has Gabriel Saez with the riding assignment, Andy Hernandez will have the reins on Twisted Ride and My Buddy B will be guided by Yan Aviles.
Return to the September 19 issue of Wire to Wire
