Bullard romps in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3)

2024 Bob Hope Stakes Results

Jockey Umberto Rispoli and Bullard after winning the Bob Hope Stakes.

Date: 11/17/2024

The feature race on the third Sunday of Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Season was the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) for two-year-olds sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Conditions were chilly with sunny skies and a post time temperature of 58 for the 2,770 fans in attendance at the seaside oval. Originally 6 made final entry but after Dr Ruben M was scratched, just 5 went to post with Bullard sent off as the 11-10 favorite off his debut win on September 1 at Del Mar. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice McKinzie Street, third in the American Pharoah (G1) after finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), and 7-2 third choice Madaket Road, a first time starter off 4 consecutive bullet works.

Bullard leads in the stretch

Jockey Juan Hernandez sent 4-1 fourth choice Kalea Bay to the lead out of the chute through an opening quarter of 21.61 before McKinzie Street took over on the turn throuugh a half in 43.93. Turning for home, Bullard, last early under Umberto Rispoli, came out 3 wide and swept to the lead through 3/4 in 1:09.59. Kept to task by Rispoli, Bullard drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths over late-running Madaket Road in 1:22.55. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to McKinzie Street third.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey         Win   Place   Show
 5   Bullard            Rispoli       4.20    2.60   2.10 
 4   Madaket Road       Fresu                 4.40   2.60 
 1   McKinzie Street    Kimura                       2.40    

Winning Time:  1:22.55  

$1 Exacta 5-4                   9.10
$2 Quinella 4-5                 9.40
$1 Trifecta 5-4-1              17.20
$1 Superfecta 5-4-1-6          61.70

Full results chart

Left: Bullard in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, “I thought the pace was very fast, something that I was wishing before the race. And I know he was a little bit off the bridle in the beginning. 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. 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.”

Right: Bullard in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer Mike McCarthy said, “I thought Yakteen’s (McKinzie Street) was the horse to beat. When they were three across the track like that I felt pretty good. He had four works. It would have been nice to have had five but he was able to get the job done. Obviously, :43.4 (half mile) helped a little bit.”

Left: Second place finisher Madaket Road in the paddock before the race. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 1 second in 1 start, earning $20,000 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

Right: Third place finisher McKinzie Street in the paddock. The Tim Yakteen trainee improved his record to 1 win, 1 second, and 2 thirds in 4 starts, earning $153,000 for owners Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger Beasley.

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