Sum of Success Puts Unblemished Record on Line in Juvenile Sprint

Dibona-Trained Colt ‘Ready’ for Sunday’s Return from Brief Illness
Saturday’s Special Events at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Sum of Success will put his unblemished record on the line in Sunday’s $75,000 Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream Park, where the son of Win Win Win has done nothing but win, win, win.

Undefeated and untested while dominating fellow Florida-breds in his first three races for Johnston Racing LLC, Michael and Jules Iavarone and Hopeless Stables, Sum of Success will return from a two-month hiatus in the six-furlong stakes that will headline an 11-race program.

“He got sick after the last race, maybe a touch in the race. He spiked a fever, his blood work went haywire. I was worried about pneumonia. I lost about three weeks with him,” trainer Bobby Dibona said. “I brought him back easy. He looks great. Saturday, I set him down and he worked [five furlongs] in 59 [seconds]. I think this is a good comeback spot. We’re ready.”

Sum of Success made an eye-catching debut July 20 at Gulfstream Park, overcoming early bumping to handily register a 7 1/2-length front-running victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight. He came right back three weeks later to dismiss his overmatched state-bred rivals by 11 1/2 lengths in the six-furlong In Summation Stakes. Most recently, he coasted to a 5 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong Express Tour Sept. 5 without being asked by jockey Jonathan Ocasio.

Sum of Success caught Dibona’s eye at the OBS April 2-year-olds-in-training sale, where he was purchased for $165,000.

“His work at the sale was most impressive. When I saw him physically, I really, really liked him,” Dibona said. “The first couple weeks I had him, he was different.”

Ocasio has the return call on Sum of Success, who is the 4-5 morning-line favorite in a field of six assembled for the open-company Juvenile Sprint.

Although four of his five rivals in the Juvenile Sprint will be fellow state-breds, KMN Racing LLC’s Real Gone, a Kentucky-bred son of Olympiad, should provide Sum of Success with some competition Sunday. The Patrick Biancone-trained colt will return from a two-month freshening since finishing an even fifth in the one-turn mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Prior to his out-of-town engagement, Real Gone graduated in a six-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 22 by 8 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream, where he had debuted with a fourth-place finish at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

J. G. Torrealba, who was aboard for his maiden score, has the call on Real Cone, who is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line.

Daniel Alonso’s Ford Roadster will return to Gulfstream’s main track over which he scored at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight in April. The Ramon Minguet-trained gelding went on to finish second in the five-furlong Hollywood Beach on turf Sept.26 before checking in third in a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on Tapeta Nov. 1.

Leading rider Leonel Reyes has the call on the son of Roadster.

Peter J. Mirabelli Trust’s Mane Affair, Smith Ranch Stables’ Spicy Taco and Brett McLellan’s Mitts round out the field.

Special Events Saturday at Gulfstream

Saturday will be a busy day at Gulfstream. In addition to a live 11-race program featuring the $75,000 Juvenile Sprint and $60,000 Groupie Doll overnight handicap, the track is hosting a pair of special events and launching an annual holiday tradition.

Family Day at the Races by Kids Club will take place from 2-6 p.m. in the Flamingo Room offering free admission, interactive DJ, kids activities and food and drink for purchase. Following the races, the movie Secretariat will be shown on the infield scoreboard. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Ten Palms will be the site of Bet & Brunch Handicapping Tournament with a $100 buy-in for players 18 and older. Registration begins at 11:50 a.m. Players are required to make $4 win/place wagers on five of Gulfstream’s 11 races. The first-place finisher receives the prize pool fund and two VIP tickets to Taste at the Track Nov. 22. Click here for more information.

Saturday also marks the start of Symphony in Lights, a free event hosted nightly at Gulfstream through Dec. 31. Illuminated by more than 250,000 LED lights and accompanied by holiday favorites and popular music from yesterday and today, the seasonal display includes a 10-minute light show at the top of each hour from 6-11 p.m. For more information, click here.