Another piece of exciting news we’re delighted to share: our very own homebred colt led the way at 51-1 in a Grade 3 at Belmont Park and held on for third. We knew he was capable of it, and we couldn’t be prouder of him.
On October 10, Bull Shoals took us to the front of the Hill Prince Stakes, keeping us there for most of the way. The joy of watching him lead on such a big day is hard to give words to. He set the pace in a Grade 3 on the inner turf. Sent off at 51-1, the longest price in a field of nine, this colt was headed near the quarter pole before digging in to hold third by a neck.
Bull Shoals Gave Us a Day to Remember
It was a fine day for racing: a clear, firm October afternoon with nine runners in total. Kendrick Carmouche had Bull Shoals from post 5, and the colt went straight to the front, settling calmly along the inside with the rail for company.
He led by a half-length after the first quarter in 24.56, by a length at the half in 49.80 and by 1½ lengths at six furlongs in 1:13.97, traveling along the inside and in hand. These were truly wonderful minutes for all of us who love this horse and have followed his journey with Bushman Thoroughbreds.
The pressure came around the far turn. At the three-eighths pole Carmouche asked him for more, and Third Coast, who had been stalking from just outside, began to press. Near the quarter pole Third Coast took over, and Bull Shoals turned for home second. Third Coast went on to win, and he deserves his credit. What Bull Shoals did next is the real story for us.
He had been headed, and he kept running. Third Coast edged away under a drive and won by 1¼ lengths in 1:54.93 for trainer Thomas Proctor and Glen Hill Farm, and Caroline St. Beat, the favorite, found a mild kick from three wide to take second. Print was closing fast from six wide. Bull Shoals dug in, ran on through to the finish and held third by a neck.
Third was worth $24,000 and a graded stakes placing, a line that will follow his family’s pedigree for good. For all of us behind this horse, it’s worth a great deal more than that.
Watch · Race replay
The Horse We Know
Bull Shoals was foaled in Kentucky in April 2023. By Mo Forza out of our mare Rapid Water, by Liam’s Map, he’s one of our own and trained by the fabulous Jena Antonucci. We applaud the work she’s put into helping him reach this milestone moment.
Jena, along with the many professionals behind Bull Shoals, has been guiding him on a patient journey of several steps. This same horse finished second three times before he won an $80,000 maiden special weight at Del Mar on August 16, taking it by 3¼ lengths as the favorite. He ran fourth in the $200,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at Saratoga on September 7, and less than eight weeks after that maiden win he was at Belmont Park for a Grade 3.
Seven starts in and Bull Shoals has finished in the money five times. It’s a testament to the individual care we wrap around every horse. As a family, it’s the kind of day we hoped our approach would one day bring.
Rebecca Bushman of Bushman Thoroughbreds paid tribute to the horse and the team who made all of this possible:
“Seeing Bull Shoals out in front in a Grade 3 at Belmont Park is something this family will remember for a long time. He gave us everything he had at the Prince Hill Stakes. Our thanks go to Jena Antonucci, who has brought him along with such patience and skill, and to Kendrick Carmouche for a ride that gave him every chance. We are grateful to the New York Racing Association and everyone at Belmont Park for hosting a wonderful day of racing, and to every owner and trainer who lined up against us and made it a real contest. We also thank the people who look after him. He has given us a day we’ll talk about for years, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.”
What Comes Next for Bull Shoals?
For more information on Bull Shoals, you’ll be able to stay up to date on TikTok, Instagram and X, as well as on our regularly updated racing page. Until then, you can learn more about this colt over at our stable.
