Gun Runner's 'Rising Star' Bullard Trounces Bob Hope Field

In the first domestic graded race for juveniles since the Breeders' Cup a little more than two weeks ago, 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (c, 2, Gun Runner–Reve d'Amour, by Warrior's Reward) stayed unbeaten to capture Del Mar's GIII Bob Hope Stakes Sunday. The $675,000 Keeneland September purchase had gone to the post favored over highly regarded GI Del Mar Futurity runner-up and GI American Pharoah Stakes third McKinzie Street (McKinzie), who would hit the board once again.

Umberto Rispoli, who has been aboard in both of Bullard's two career starts, was immediately effusive in his praise of the colt.

“I just think he is a horse that deserves a bit more distance. Look he hacked, he moved, he gallops like a good horse, like a great horse,” said Rispoli. “He is a horse who has shown us who he is only at his second start. He needs to figure out what is really going on with horse racing. Everything is about learning, for him, once he understands how this all really works, I think he is going to improve, improve, and improve. I don't think it was his best today.”

Just like in his only previous start–a win at six furlongs over the Del Mar surface Sept. 1–Bullard trailed early before unleashing a closing kick that likely has his connections itching to try him at longer distances. In the Bob Hope, daylight maiden winner Maximus (Maximus Mischief) was quickest to the front, but was soon joined by another open-daylight winner in Kalea Bay (Authentic), as well as McKinzie Street. Meanwhile, Bullard lacked the same early speed of his contemporaries, trailing about five or six lengths back as Kalea Bay recorded a crisp first quarter in :21.63. Bullard continued to amble along at the back as McKinzie Street shook clear up front and blazed through a half in :43.93. Even as Bullard stayed at the rear, his stride noticeably lengthened and–more telling–he was doing it easily. The dark bay swung wide, pulled alonsigside McKinzie Street as he paused before switching to his proper lead, and suddenly found another gear to blow by his more experienced rival. Other than one left-handed suggestion before he'd swapped leads, Rispoli essentially hand rode Bullard down the lane and relaxed several strides before the wire. Clear by 4 3/4 lengths at the finish, Bullard galloped out with his ears pricked as career debuter Madaket Road (Quality Road) finished second and McKinzie Street held for third.

Owned by St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing LLC, Three Chimneys Farm, and West Point Thoroughbreds, Bullard earned 'Rising Star' honors, as well as a Bob Hope field co-highest Beyer Speed Figure of 84, when unveiled Sept. 1. The dark bay was the second Bob Hope winner for trainer Michael McCarthy, who incidentally won the first black-type race of his career in the 2014 Bob Hope with No Problem (Munnings). Two races prior to the 2024 Bob Hope, McCarthy warmed up in the Del Mar winner's circle with another promising 2-year-old colt in Journalism (Curlin).

Pedigree Notes:

Bullard makes it 25 graded winners in just four crops to race for exceptional Three Chimneys Farm sire Gun Runner, who will stand for an advertised $250,000 in 2025. Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year, is currently second on North America's 2024 leading sires list. Among his 15 other 'Rising Stars' and 33 other black-type winners are GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone and late champion Echo Zulu. The chestnut just added another 'Rising Star' Saturday at Churchill Downs with Guns Loaded.

By the pensioned Pennsylvania stallion Warrior's Reward, who has 14 stakes winners out of his daughters, Bullard's dam Reve d'Amour was unraced but already has produced two stakes winners from five foals to race, including Ellis Park track record setter Mundaye Call (Into Mischief). A half to GSW Can the Man (Into Mischief) out of French MGSW and English G1SP Smolensk (Danzig), Reve d'Amour is a granddaughter of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}), the stellar broodmare best known as the dam of Broodmare of the Year and $14-million Fasig-Tipton buy Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). It's a deep family littered with champions, Classic winners, sires, stars in the sales ring, and more.

Reve d'Amour has not had a foal since Bullard and has again been reported as barren for 2025.

From last ➡️ first. 🏇💨

Bullard & @umbyrispoli power to victory in the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes. pic.twitter.com/NG6krK5hfb

— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 18, 2024

Sunday, Del Mar
BOB HOPE S.-GIII, $100,000, Del Mar, 11-17, 2yo, 7f, 1:22.55, ft.
1–BULLARD, 120, c, 2, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Reve d'Amour, by Warrior's Reward
                2nd Dam: Smolensk, by Danzig
                3rd Dam: Blush With Pride, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($675,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Michael McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $105,000. *1/2 to Mundaye Call (Into Mischief), SW, $285,717. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Madaket Road, 118, c, 2, Quality Road–Frolic's Dream, by Smoke Glacken. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($650,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $20,000.
3–McKinzie Street, 120, c, 2, McKinzie–Karpathos, by Tale of the Cat. ($120,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $290,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr., and Roger K. Beasley; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. $12,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2 3/4, 11. Odds: 1.10, 3.80, 2.90.
Also Ran: Maximus, Kalea Bay. Scratched: Dr Ruben M.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.