Clay Soldier lifts Bucchero into tie for Florida freshman lead

Bucchero is tied for the Florida freshman sire lead with nine winners after the maiden-breaking victory of Clay Soldier at Gulfstream Park yesterday.

Leonel Reyes was aboard the filly who was making her career debut in the rain for Dr. Cornelius (Sonny) Link in a 5 1/2-furlong test over the Tapeta surface. Clay Soldier tracked the leaders in the two path down the backstretch, began cutting into the lead on the turn, sliced between horses at the top of the stretch and went on to score by 1 1/2 lengths. She was clocked in 1:05.82 and earned a check for $17,800 for the retired dentist.

Despite a series of good works leading up to her debut as has been the case with so many of Bucchero’s runners, Clay Soldier went off at 7-1 and paid $17.80.

Bucchero lost his bid for his first stakes-winner when Anamnestic finished first in a $60,000 stakes race at Gulfstream but was disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference to several horses in the stretch.