BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Forever Souper overtook Florida-bred Happyisashappydoes with a furlong to run then drew off to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in the $79,200 Avery Whisman Memorial at Presque Isle Downs Monday. Florida-bred Anamnestic came on late to get second in the mile-and-70-yard contest that featured six 3-year-olds and older on the all-weather surface.
It was the second straight stakes victory and fourth of the year for the son of American Pharoah, who won the $96,000 Prince George County by nearly five lengths on the grass at Laurel on July 14. He started the year in January winning the $95,000 Sunshine Turf for Florida-breds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream Park then won the $100,000 ESMARK Turf Classic against state-breds going nine furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24.
Trained by Michael Trombetta and ridden from the outside post by Antonio Gallardo, Forever Souper was well-placed in third during the early going as Happyisashappydoes led Florida-bred Pemaquid Pete by a half-length through a :22.60 first quarter-mile. Happyisashappydoes stretched his lead to two lengths down the backstretch and was two-and-a-half lengths in front with a quarter-mile to run. Gallardo and Forever Souper moved within striking distance around the bend then tipped outside Happyisashappydoes at the top of the stretch. Forever Souper separated from his rivals inside the eighth-pole then drew off to win in 1:39.69.
Hush Of A Storm finished a half-length behind Anamnestic to get third. He’s a Mess, Happyisashappydoes and Pemaquid Pete completed the order of finish.
A homebred for Live Oak Plantation, Forever Souper returned $6.20 to win as the favorite.
Forever Souper is out of Mighty Souper, by War Front and now has eight wins in 17 lifetime starts with a second and four thirds. The dark bay or brown gelding increased his career earnings to $400,255. Mighty Souper was campaigned throughout her multiple stakes-placed career by Live Oak Plantation, who purchased her has a yearling at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $275,000. Live Oak Plantation sold her to D & D in the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Forever Souper is the only stakes horse for Mighty Souper, who has two starters, both winners from five foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Souper Gin Can Win, by Lookin At Lucky; an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Lookin At Lucky; a yearling colt, Yo Paul, by Yaupon and an unnamed weanling filly by Ocala Stud’s Roadster.
