Foreman surges past an obscured Willy Boi to win the OBS Sophomore S. at Tampa Bay Downs – SV Photo
FOREMAN- 3 Yr. Old By Chitu Wins 7 furlong $100,000 OBS Sophomore Stakes, at Tampa Bay Downs!
Foreman overcame a seemingly insurmountable task in the final furlong of Sunday’s $110,000 OBS Sophomore S. at Tampa Bay Downs to defeat Willy Boi by a half-length in the seven-furlong affair for 3-year-olds.
The victory marked the first black-type winner for Bridlewood Farm’s Chitu, who is standing this year for $3,500. Chitu has been a top-three Florida sire of his generation each of the past two years.
Foreman, owned by his trainer Gerald Bennett, was second in a tightly-packed field that was led by Willy Boi through a half-mile in a swift :44.87. Willy Boi pulled clear in the stretch and was up by some two lengths with a sixteenth to run, but Foreman and jockey Daniel Centeno made one final push for the win.
The final time for the seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:23.38
“He has been doing better every race, running with nice horses, and he keeps improving,” Centeno said. “I knew we had a good shot after I saw (Soup and Sandwich) run second (to Known Agenda in the Florida Derby on Saturday) and he ran good today.”
Foreman had run second to Soup and Sandwich last month in a Tampa allowance. Sunday’s win improved his mark to 2-1-1 in five outings, with earnings of $81,745.
Foreman was bred in Florida by Northwind Thoroughbreds, LLC and Majel & Alton Ison. His dam Strong Threat hails from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty and Clark H. (G3) winner Out of Place.
