Sum of Success strengthened his reputation as one of Florida’s most promising young sprinters with another emphatic performance at Gulfstream Park on Monday, powering to an 11½-length victory in the $100,000 FHBPA In Summation Stakes.
The two-year-old colt made all the running in the six-furlong contest for Florida-bred juveniles, defeating five rivals with considerable authority. Ridden by Jonathan Ocasio, he covered the distance in 1:10.14 on a fast main track and was never fully extended.
The victory came only three weeks after Sum of Success had won his debut by 7½ lengths over five furlongs at the same venue. His latest display suggested that the first success was no isolated effort, with the colt producing another powerful turn of foot when the race began to take shape.
Breaking sharply from Post 3, Sum of Success quickly established himself in front and completed the opening quarter-mile in 22.06 seconds. It’s Smoking, who had won a maiden special weight race by 7¼ lengths on May 22, moved up alongside him approaching the half-mile mark.
The pair reached that point in 44.64 seconds, but Sum of Success soon began to draw clear. Ocasio asked him for more around the far turn and the response was immediate, with the colt completing five furlongs in 56.95 seconds before racing away from his rivals through the stretch.
Boyhood Dream produced a late challenge to finish second, edging It’s Smoking by 2¼ lengths.
American Roadster was fourth, a neck behind It’s Smoking, while Road to Midnight and Spicy Taco completed the field.
The winner is by Grade 1-winning sprinter Win Win Win and is a grandson of In Summation. He was bred in Ocala, Florida, by Oakleaf Farm, the operation of Liz and Norman Wilson.
The performance has already opened the door to bigger assignments for the youngster. His connections have identified a seven-furlong Florida-bred race in September followed by a possible one-mile engagement in October, although his longer-term distance range remains to be established.
Trainer Bobby Dibona has enjoyed success at graded level in the past, most recently with Steal Sunshine, who has earned $891,170 and captured the 2024 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes.
For now, Sum of Success remains unbeaten after two starts and has won both races by wide margins. His next appearance will provide another opportunity to assess whether his speed can translate over a longer trip.
The race honours In Summation, a Florida-bred who won 12 of 29 starts between 2005 and 2009 and earned more than $1.2 million.
Eleven of his victories came in stakes company, including Grade 1 success in the 2007 Bing Crosby Handicap, Grade 2 victories in the 2008 Palos Verdes Handicap and Grade 3 wins in the El Conejo Handicap in 2008 and 2009.
The meeting also brought news of the retirement of White Abarrio, the grey seven-year-old who spent much of his career based at Gulfstream Park.
White Abarrio retires with 11 victories from 28 starts and earnings of more than $8.5 million. His major achievements included victories in the 2022 Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup and Ghostzapper Stakes.
His retirement closes the career of one of the most accomplished horses associated with Gulfstream Park in recent seasons, while the emergence of Sum of Success provides a fresh source of interest for the Florida-bred programme.
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