Gufo (horse)

Gufo (foaled February 28, 2017) is a retired American multiple Grade I turf-winning Thoroughbred racehorse. His Grade I wins include the Belmont Derby in 2020 and the Sword Dancer Stakes in 2021 and 2022.

Background
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 another millionaire, track record holder and multiple graded stakes winner Hogy (Grade III Canadian Turf Stakes). Sire Declaration of War began his career at Ashford Stud in Kentucky and has been relocated only to sire Grade 1 winners on four continents. Gufo is currently owned by John and Laurie Little's Cave Brook Farm after being campaigned by their friend Steve Cainelli and trained by Christophe Clement.

Racing career
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.

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.

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.

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) and then third in the Manhattan Stakes again to Domestic Spending after settling last and finishing wide beaten by four lengths. 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. 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.

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. 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 and once again finishing third in the Manhattan Stakes. 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. In his next start, Gufo was beaten by a nose in the GII Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs as the 8/5 favorite. 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.

Retirement
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." He was sold to Cave Brook Farm and Gufo was sent to begin his stud career in 2024 at Ballycroy Bloodstock, outside Toronto, Ontario for a fee of CAN$4,500.

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