Bucchero 'rounding into form' for Woodford Stakes defense

A year after the biggest win of his racing career, Bucchero returns to Keeneland in hopes of a repeat victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford Stakes. Last year’s Woodford also served as a springboard for Bucchero’s first trip to the Breeders’ Cup, in which he proved to be a strong competitor in the Turf Sprint (G1). 

Although Bucchero hasn't visited the winner’s circle since the Woodford, trainer Tim Glyshaw believes he’s doing just as well after a year of graded stakes.

“Seems like every year this time of year he gets good and that’s what happened last year,” Glyshaw said. “He won his Indiana-bred race up at Indiana, he won the Woodford and he was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup and got beat a length. Hopefully history will repeat itself somewhat. He’ll win the Woodford again and then he’ll be back in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Bucchero won multiple stakes wbefore last year’s Woodford. He was four-time state-bred winner at Indiana Grand and also picked up a listed stakes score at Mountaineer. His 26-1 Woodford upset set the stage for the Breeders’ Cup, and that performance led him to a competitive year of turf sprints this season.

The 6-year-old horse picked up show finishes in Gulfstream Park’s Silks Run Stakes and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) during Kentucky Derby weekend. He was also second in Keeneland’s Shakertown last spring (G2).

With those finishes, Glyshaw and owner Ironhorse Racing Stable decided to take Bucchero to Royal Ascot for a "once-in-a-lifetime experience." He ran fifth in the King’s Stand (G1).

“Who knows if we’ll ever get to do it again,” Glyshaw said. “As for the horse-wise, we all thought he finished fourth. He finished fifth actually, but those top two (Godolphin’s Blue Point and Shadwell’s Battaash) are two of the top turf sprinters in the world.”

Bucchero received time off upon shipping home before making his return to racing Sept. 3 in the Parx Dash (G3). He crossed the wire fifth, beaten only 2 ¼ lengths, and it was an encouraging return for connections.

“He’s sort of a tough-luck horse in a lot of his races,” Glyshaw said. “That race, he didn’t break quite as well as he usually does from the gate and he was back towards the end of the field and then had to be checked. Basically – I don’t know if it shows in the chart – but he was back eight or nine lengths and made up a ton of ground in the stretch. He was very wide.”

Glyshaw added that while Bucchero’s season doesn’t look as good on paper as it did a year ago, the step up in competition is the difference. The horse may not be entering the Woodford off multiple firsts and seconds like last year, but he has also faced top turf sprinters.

“He seems to be rounding into form in the fall like he always does,” the trainer said. “It’s a tough race at Keeneland but I think if we get a good trip we should be right there.”