On August 28, Gufo got first run on multiple Group 1 winner Japan in the Resort World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (USA-G1) at Saratoga, and that proved to be the difference as the Declaration of War colt staved off his rival by a shrinking head at the finish. It was the second win at the top level for Gufo, previously the winner of the 2020 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, and made him the newest member of the millionaires' club with lifetime earnings of $1,138,510.
Gufo is a fifth-generation descendant of 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Too Bald. A daughter of 1960 American champion handicap male Bald Eagle out of 1959 Kentucky Oaks winner Hidden Talent, Too Bald took after her dam's speedy family as a racer, scoring four stakes wins at distances from 7 furlongs to a mile and one-sixteenth. She was not a pure speedster genetically, however, and as a broodmare showed the invaluable ability to blend her speed with the proclivities transmitted by her mates. Thus, her five stakes winners ranged from the staying Exceller (by Vaguely Noble), capable of taking on the very best at a mile and a half as an older male, to Capote, a precocious son of Seattle Slew who became the American champion juvenile male of 1986.
Gufo's branch of the family descends through Bald Facts, a winning daughter of In Reality. A full sister to stakes winner and useful sire American Standard, Bald Facts produced 1999 William P. Kyne Handicap (USA-G3) and listed stakes winner Fortunate Facts (by Sir Ivor). Fortunate Facts, in turn, produced Japanese listed stakes winner Admire Mambo (by Kingmambo) and is the second dam of listed stakes winner Charitabledonation (by Saint Ballado), who became the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Charitable Man (by Lemon Drop Kid) and 2013 Matt Winn Stakes (USA-G3) winner Code West (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Two other daughters of Bald Facts produced stakes winners, but it was Eddie's Star who continued the line leading to Gufo. A daughter of 1988 American champion 3-year-old male Risen Star, Eddie's Star could not win or place in seven tries and produced three minor winners from seven foals. Her only producing daughter is Risen Miss, a winner by 1993 Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski. The dam of just two minor winners from nine named foals, she redeemed herself and her dam's branch of Too Bald's line by producing the Petionville mare Floy, dam of Gufo. Floy is also the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hogy (by Offlee Wild) and is still in production, with her most recent foal being a 2021 filly by Preservationist that has been given the name of Poet. Floy was bred to Hard Spun for 2022.
While the Sword Dancer was a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1), guaranteeing an expenses-paid starting slot, Gufo's next start remains undecided. Nonetheless, his ability will almost certainly gain improved opportunities for his half sisters in the paddocks and may lead to a revival for this branch of Too Bald's family.
Gufo is a fifth-generation descendant of 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Too Bald. A daughter of 1960 American champion handicap male Bald Eagle out of 1959 Kentucky Oaks winner Hidden Talent, Too Bald took after her dam's speedy family as a racer, scoring four stakes wins at distances from 7 furlongs to a mile and one-sixteenth. She was not a pure speedster genetically, however, and as a broodmare showed the invaluable ability to blend her speed with the proclivities transmitted by her mates. Thus, her five stakes winners ranged from the staying Exceller (by Vaguely Noble), capable of taking on the very best at a mile and a half as an older male, to Capote, a precocious son of Seattle Slew who became the American champion juvenile male of 1986.
Gufo's branch of the family descends through Bald Facts, a winning daughter of In Reality. A full sister to stakes winner and useful sire American Standard, Bald Facts produced 1999 William P. Kyne Handicap (USA-G3) and listed stakes winner Fortunate Facts (by Sir Ivor). Fortunate Facts, in turn, produced Japanese listed stakes winner Admire Mambo (by Kingmambo) and is the second dam of listed stakes winner Charitabledonation (by Saint Ballado), who became the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Charitable Man (by Lemon Drop Kid) and 2013 Matt Winn Stakes (USA-G3) winner Code West (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Two other daughters of Bald Facts produced stakes winners, but it was Eddie's Star who continued the line leading to Gufo. A daughter of 1988 American champion 3-year-old male Risen Star, Eddie's Star could not win or place in seven tries and produced three minor winners from seven foals. Her only producing daughter is Risen Miss, a winner by 1993 Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski. The dam of just two minor winners from nine named foals, she redeemed herself and her dam's branch of Too Bald's line by producing the Petionville mare Floy, dam of Gufo. Floy is also the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hogy (by Offlee Wild) and is still in production, with her most recent foal being a 2021 filly by Preservationist that has been given the name of Poet. Floy was bred to Hard Spun for 2022.
While the Sword Dancer was a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1), guaranteeing an expenses-paid starting slot, Gufo's next start remains undecided. Nonetheless, his ability will almost certainly gain improved opportunities for his half sisters in the paddocks and may lead to a revival for this branch of Too Bald's family.
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