Forever Souper collects first stakes win in Sunshine Turf S.

Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Forever Souper earned his first stakes victory Jan. 21 at Gulfstream Park in the $95,000 Sunshine Turf S., while his stablemate and fellow Live Oak runner Souper Blessing took the runner-up spot.

The newly-turned 5-year-old, who was also making his first appearance in a stakes race, had progressed nicely in 2023, finishing in the top three, including two victories, in his last four starts on the turf.

After getting beat just a nose in an open turf allowance on Christmas Eve at Tampa Bay Downs, Forever Souper made his 2024 debut a winning one. He made his way to the fence shortly after the start, with Souper Blessing just ahead and to his outside as they tracked in third and fourth through a half-mile in :48.75.

Souper Blessing, who was in the clear on the outside, surged to the front entering the stretch, while Forever Souper had to switch from inside to out for clear running. Forever Souper had the momentum and hit the front in the final furlong to win by a length.

“Forever Souper, he came into this race at the right time. He needed that last race at Tampa and had a very solid workout last weekend,” said Chris Aro, Michael Trombetta’s assistant trainer.

Forever Souper is a very solid 5-1-2 in 12 starts and has earned $212,255. The dark bay is out of multiple stakes-placed Mighty Souper and hails from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Lakeway.