BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A frontrunning winner of the $99,000 Willa On the Move in her last start, Florida-bred Ms. Bucchero will attempt to add to her black-type credentials Saturday in the $100,000 What A Summer for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Laurel Park.
Owned by trainer Diane Morici in the name of her Morici Racing Stable LLC, Ms. Bucchero went head and head with Simply Stated through a quick quarter mile in :22.23 in the six-and-a-half-furlong Willa on the Move before putting away that rival in the turn and winning by a length for her first career stakes victory.
That finished off a solid 2024 campaign that saw her win two of five starts and two seconds with her only off the board finish coming in the $100,000 Sensible Lady in September—her only career start on turf.
Her consistency has been an asset throughout her career as she has won half of her 14 career starts with three seconds and $264,950 in earnings.
Bred in Florida by Pamela Edel of Ocala, Ms. Bucchero is by Bucchero out of Give Glory to God, by Mutakddim. She was consigned to the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales April Sale by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds but did not meet her reserve.
Labeled at 4-1 on the morning line, Ms. Bucchero will be ridden by Xavier Perez from post two.
Ms. Bucchero will be tested by Kant Hurry Love, the 7-5 morning line favorite and a winner of her last two—both against stakes fillies in New York.
The 6-year-old daughter of Kantharos enters Saturday after winning the $135,000 Garland of Roses going six furlongs at Aqueduct on Dec. 8 in her first start in six months. In her previous race on June 23, Kant Hurry Love defended her title in the restricted Dancing Renee going six furlongs at Aqueduct.
Owned by Ken Wheeler Jr., Kant Hurry Love has won seven with eight seconds and five thirds in 23 lifetime races while earning $599,850.
Luis Rivera Jr. will ride Kant Hurry Love from post four.
Others entered for the What A Summer are Spencerian and jockey Victor Carrasco, Don’t Tell Kelly with Angel Cruz up, Happy Clouds has J. D. Acosta taking the call and St. Benedicts Prep will have Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle.