Live Oak Plantation’s homebred colt Souper Blessing wrapped up 2023 in style by getting his first stakes victory in the $150,000 Tropical Park Derby on Dec. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

The outcome of the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf wasn’t decided until the final strides. Souper Blessing was keen after a good break, but found himself bottled up behind horses going into the first turn. He settled nicely on the backstretch, in sixth about a half-dozen lengths off the lead. The field bunched up around the final bend, and Souper Blessing was behind a wall of four horses turning for home.

When an opening appeared inside the final furlong, Souper Blessing surged through and hit the wire first a neck in front, with less than a length separating the top four finishers.

The final time was 1:40.53 on the firm turf.

“When I asked him down the stretch he went right through,” jockey Edwin Gonzalez said of the colt’s victorious move.

Souper Blessing, trained by Michael Trombetta, had placed in three stakes prior to Saturday’s breakthrough win. His record now stands at 3-1-2 in seven starts, with earnings of $168,061.