BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – K. Johnston Racing, Michael and Jules Iavarone and Hopeless Stables’ undefeated multiple stakes-winning 2-year-old Sum of Success, briefly under Breeders’ Cup consideration, will instead stay home for his next start.
Based at Gulfstream Park with trainer Bobby Dibona, Florida-bred Sum of Success is being pointed to either the $100,000 Juvenile Sprint going six furlongs on November 14 or the $200,000 Aventura at a one-turn mile November 28, also for 2-year-olds, on opening weekend of the 2026-2027 Championship Meet.
“It’ll be one of the two,” Dibona said.
After Sum of Success ran his record to three wins in as many starts with a five-and-a-quarter-length victory on September 5 in the $150,000 Express Tour for Florida-breds going seven furlongs, the connections had considered sending him to Keeneland for the $1 million Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) on October 30, which would have marked his grass debut. A minor illness exiting the race changed their plans.
“He got a little sick,” Dibona said. “He spiked a fever and his bloodwork got crazy, so he missed a couple weeks of training.”
Sum of Success returned to the work tab Saturday at Gulfstream, breezing a half-mile in :49.44 over a main track rated good. It was his first timed move since August 30, a week before the Express Tour.
“I just thought he did what he was supposed to do,” Dibona said. “We just went easy with him, just to get him back going. He went a half in 49 [seconds], which is what I wanted, and he galloped out well. It was pretty good.”
Sum of Success, a $165,000 son of Grade 1-winning sprinter and Ocala Stud stallion Win Win Win, debuted July 20 at Gulfstream before cruising in back-to-back state-bred stakes starting with the Aug. 10 In Summation. His three wins, all in front-running fashion, have come by 24 ¼ combined lengths.
He is out of the In Summation mare All Summed Up and was bred by Liz and Norman Wilson’s Oakleaf Farm located in Ocala.
Return to the October 17 issue of Wire to Wire
