Temple City colt rallies to win Tropical Park Derby

Temple City’s Souper Blessing wrapped up 2023 in style by getting his first stakes victory in the $150,000 Tropical Park Derby on Dec. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

The outcome of the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf wasn’t decided until the final strides. Souper Blessing was keen after a good break, but found himself bottled up behind horses going into the first turn. He settled nicely on the backstretch, in sixth about a half-dozen lengths off the lead. The field bunched up around the final bend, and Souper Blessing was behind a wall of four horses turning for home.

When an opening appeared inside the final furlong, Souper Blessing surged through and hit the wire first a neck in front, with less than a length separating the top four finishers.

The final time was 1:40.53 on the firm turf.

“When I asked him down the stretch he went right through,” jockey Edwin Gonzalez said of the colt’s victorious move.

Souper Blessing, a Live Oak Plantation homebred, had placed in three stakes prior to Saturday’s breakthrough win. His record now stands at 3-1-2 in seven starts, with earnings of $168,061.

Temple City has six stakes winners and more than a dozen stakes horses in 2023. His lifetime stats include two champions, 31 black type winners and the earners of more than $43 million. He will stand the 2024 season for $5,000 S&N.

 

 

 

 

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