A hard-knocking, versatile runner, Bucchero has continued his underdog success on the racetrack into his career at stud, where he has overcome books of modest Florida mares to sire a Grade 1 winner and be among the leading sires of his crop. After transferring from Florida to New York in 2024, he finds a new, permanent home at Ironhorse Stallions @ Questroyal North for 2025. The leading sire in New York, he will stand for $10,000 LFSN.
A son of the brilliant 2YO Kantharos, who was so successful with his first Florida crops that he was moved to Hill ‘N’ Dale Farm in Kentucky, Bucchero was second in his first start at 2YO despite debuting in stakes company. He then broke his maiden by 6 lengths in his second start going 6 furlongs on dirt. His second victory came in a 5-furlong turf sprint, and his third in a 1-1/16 mile dirt stakes. That was the first of his seven black-type triumphs through his 6YO season, which included back-to-back wins in Keeneland’s G2 Woodford Stakes at 5-1/2 furlongs on grass. He was also beaten just a length for the win in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and came home a close 5th of 14 at Royal Ascot in the historic G1 King’s Stand Stakes.
Bucchero’s career record of (31) 11-6-3, $947,936, does much to explain his first-year popularity in 2019, especially in the state recently vacated by his own sire Kantharos. In addition to Grade 1 winner Book’em Danno, Bucchero has four more black-type winners to his credit (all in open company), and a further ten black-type horses. His runners hit the board in an astronomical 49% of their starts.
We wrote this about Bucchero back in 2020 before his first crop had reached the races, and now that he is a proven commodity in a market with enhanced purses, his future only looks even brighter.
Bucchero wins the G2 Woodford at Keeneland