Adam Coglianese
Gary Barber’s Bullheaded Boy got his career off to an auspicious start and gave his sire, first year stallion Bullsbay, his first winner, when he captured his debut at Saratoga on Thursday afternoon in a five-furlong maiden special weight for New York-bred 2-year-olds for the potent duo of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez.
After being bumped at the break, Bullheaded Boy, 3-5 post time favorite, got right into gear and chased duelers Scorecard Harry and Watergate a length off the pace through early fractions of 22.54 and 46.20.
Rounding the turn four wide, Bullheaded Boy launched his bid in upper stretch, passed the two pacesetters and was left with the task of running down Persuasive Devil, who cut the corner in the turn to get into contention.
Persuasive Devil hung on with determination, but Bullheaded Boy prevailed in the final sixteenth, getting the victory by a half-length in a final time of 58.67 over the sloppy (sealed) going. [VIDEO]
Bred by Zeke Kobak and Danny Bramer and foaled on May 2, 2012 at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Bullheaded Boy is the first starter out of Sister Dyer, a placed daughter of Pulpit. The colt’s second dam is 2-year-old Grade 2 dirt route winner Belterra, who won all three starts as a juvenile and earned over $300,000.
After failing to meet his reserve when offered as a weanling, Bullheaded Boy was purchased by 2-year-old pinhooker Justin Casse for $40,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred sale last summer. When Casse Sales consigned the colt at OBS June, Casse recommended him to his client Gary Barber, and purchased him on Barber’s behalf for $115,000.
Casse said, “I wouldn’t have bought him [as a yearling] if he wasn’t a NY-bred. He was my favorite horse in the New York-bred sale. I know what it’s like to sell New York-breds and it’s always very lucrative. He was so pretty. I knew it didn’t matter who he was by, he would sell well if I could get him to work fast [as a 2-year-old].”
Casse added that the colt would probably be at his best going longer distances.
