Forever Souper caps terrific day at Tampa Bay Downs for Live Oak

Forever Souper won his second straight stakes race Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs in the $110,000 Esmark Turf Classic S., topping a stellar day for Live Oak at the Florida oval.

About an hour before Forever Souper’s win, Crystal Quest captured the Sophomore Turf S. over the same course.

Forever Souper, a Live Oak homebred, took the $100,000 Sunshine Turf S. Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park. Like he did in that race, the 5-year-old tracked the pace in fourth, but just two lengths off the lead, for six furlongs. He edged closer up the inside on the final turn, then swung to the two path and ran by pacesetter Happyisahappydoes with relative ease. Hand-ridden the rest of the way, Forever Souper was geared down late to win by 1 ¼-lengths in 1:46.87 for the 1 1/8-miles on the firm turf.

The time was a half-second off the track record.

Forever Souper is 6-1-2 in 13 starts and has earned $272,255. The son of American Pharoah is out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Mighty Souper. This is also the extended family of four-time Grade 1 winner Lakeway.