Late bloomer Here Comes Bullet on a roll at Gulfstream

Here Comes Bullet was a slow learner for Handsome Mike, and, after his first three races produced just one third-place finish, he went to the sidelines for 13 months.

The 4-year-old gelding bred by Thomas L. Croley returned this year and he’s proven to be a different horse. With his victory in a one-mile race at Gulfstream Park yesterday, Here Comes Bullet has won three of his last five.

With talented Edwin Gonzalez contributing a picture-perfect ride, Here Comes Bullet earned a check for $11,600 and raised Handsome Mike’s progeny earnings for 2021 to $979,707; it won’t be long before he celebrates his third straight million-dollar season. He’s currently in eighth place among active stallions on Florida’s general sire list.

Here Comes Bullet broke well from the No. 8 post and Gonzalez moved him up to third down the backstretch, battling the two leaders while three wide every step of the way. The gelding moved up to second coming to the final turn, then put away the leader under confident handling as they straightened out in the lane. He was never threatened in the final eighth and won by two lengths, clocked in 1:38.92. He paid a generous $20 and raised his earnings to $49,760.