Wootun Tries for First Stakes Victory

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

My Boy Star, a stakes winner versus Florida-breds earlier this year; and stakes-placed Wootun are among ten entered, including one on the also-eligible list, for the $100,000 Colonial Turf Dash, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds on the outer turf at Colonial Downs Saturday. 

An out-of-state stakes victory by either Florida-bred here would earn their respective breeders a $4,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Owned by trainer Alejandro Olais Mendieta’s A.O.M. Racing Stables with Pedro Brito Brito, My Boy Star won the $100,000 FHBPA Sprint for state-breds on April 25, taking the six-furlong contest at Gulfstream Park fresh off a five-and-a-half-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29. The quick son of Bucchero won both by leading at every point of call, drawing off in the stretch of the FHBPA Sprint to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

 

In one start since, My Boy Star showed the way early, despite being jostled at the start, in the $104,000 My Frenchman Stakes on the Monmouth Park grass on July 11. However, he was passed late and finished fifth but beaten only two-and-a-half lengths by fellow Florida-bred Rebel With a Cause. 

That was his only finish out of the top three as the reliable My Boy Star has won two with two thirds, earning $107,500 in his five career starts. He is out of My Sarasota Star, by Adios Charlie and was bred in Florida by Mendieta and Maria Elena Villegas of Tampa.

Sofia Vives has the call on My Boy Star from post two and they are 10-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Heather Smullen enters Wootun off a wire-to-wire victory against first level, $75,000 optional claimers going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream synthetic on June 26, earning a career best 81 Beyer Speed Figure. That nice performance came off a short, two-month lay-off after Wootun had finished eighth in the FHBAP Sophomore Turf.

In two races before the Sophomore Turf, Wootun had led from the start to take a first condition allowance for Florida-breds on February 1, winning by a length-and-a-half at five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream all-weather course. He also was a good second to Fulmine in the $107,000 Hutcheson going six furlongs at Gulfstream in March.

Wooton is owned by Silverton Hill and has won three of eight career starts with two seconds while earning $145,000. He was a $95,000 selection by Taproot Bloodstock as an agent at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age where he was consigned by Whitman Sales.

Wootun is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Tunwoo out of Sonhadora, by Distorted Humor and was bred in Florida by Susan and Charles Chu’s Baoma Corp. based in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Diego Herrera travels from his base at Gulfstream to ride Wootun and they will break from post four. They have been listed at 30-1 in the program.

Rounding out the field are Proton with Jose Vargas named to ride, Beautiful War with Paco Lopez up, Samuel Marin will pilot Azizam (GB), Mizner will have the riding services of Sheldon Russell, Jorge Ruiz will be in the saddle on Doubting Thomas, Ewing will have Sonny Leon in the irons and Martin Chuan guides Spidey Man. Chasing Freedom is on the also-eligible list.

Return to the August 7 issue of Wire to Wire