Gufo (horse)

Gufo is a chestnut horse that was bred in Kentucky by John Little and Stephen Cainelli. He is a son of Declaration of War out of the Petionville mare Floy, who also produced millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Hogy (Grade III Canadian Turf Stakes).[3] Sire Declaration of War was relocated to stand at the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association Shizunai Stallion Station, where he stood for ¥2,300,000 in 2020.[3] Gufo is currently owned by Otter Bend Stables and trained by Christophe Clement.

As a two-year-old in 2019, Gufo finished third in a maiden special weight event at Aqueduct, then won first place at Gulfstream Park.[4][5]

After winning two more events in July 2020, Gufo won his first Graded stakes event, the GIII Kent Stakes at Delaware Park. He broke the track record for the 1+1⁄8-mile distance.[6]

Gufo was entered in the NYRA Turf Trinity events at Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes and the Belmont Derby, which were moved to a later date in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Gufo finished second to the British-bred Domestic Spending in the Saratoga Derby but then turned the tables in the Belmont Derby, capturing his first Grade I event.[3]

In 2021, as a four-year-old, Gufo ran well at the highest levels at Belmont Park, finishing second in the Grade I Man o' War Stakes to Channel Cat by the smallest of margins (a nose)[7] and then third in the Manhattan Stakes again to Domestic Spending after settling last and finishing wide beaten by four lengths.[8] Later in the summer, Gufo captured his second Grade I event at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer Stakes with a game victory over British-bred and trained Japan by a neck.[9] Gufo finished the season with a third as the 9/5 favorite in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and tenth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar.[2]

In his first start as a five-year-old, Gufo returned to the winner's circle with a comfortable two-length victory in the GII Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park.[10] Gufo followed the same path as he had in 2021, running unsuccessfully in the Man o' War Stakes, finishing second to the longshot Irish-bred Highland Chief in a small field of five[11] and once again finishing third in the Manhattan Stakes.[12] Returning to Saratoga, Gufo showed his preference for the longer-distance Sword Dancer Stakes and displayed a strong finish to win the event for the second time.[13] In his next start, Gufo was beaten by a nose in the GII Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs as the 8/5 favorite.[14] On October 8, she ran in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct. Gufo settled on the outside in the three-to-four path without the benefit of the cover, came under urging with three furlongs to run, turned into the upper stretch under a drive, and failed to rally, finishing last in a field of seven won by War Like Goddess.[15]

On April 4, 2023, Gufo's retirement was announced by his trainer, Christophe Clement. Clement said that Gufo suffered a setback the previous month, citing owner/co-breeder Dr. Stephen Cainelli's assessment that Gufo had "done enough." Gufo is scheduled to be sent to WinStar Farm, where he will be presented as a stallion prospect.[16]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Gufo was the post-time favorite.