Pirate's Punch

Pirate’s Punch, a Shanghai Bobby gelding, began his racing career in California but won a maiden claiming race at Ellis Park in Kentucky in June 2019 and remained in the Southeast and Midwest circuits over the next year. Switched to trainer Grant Forster after his first win, Pirate’s Punch competed well in allowance optional claiming races, winning three times and finishing second twice and third twice in the next year, but could not break through in stakes events, finishing third in the Super Derby in September 2019 and Mineshaft Handicap in February 2020 and seventh in the June 2020 Stephen Foster Stakes.

Forster took the gelding to Monmouth Park in summer 2020 and started him in the Grade 3 Philip Iselin Handicap on Aug. 22, but Pirate’s Punch was disqualified from first after he drifted in late and was placed second behind Warrior’s Charge.

In his next start, Pirate’s Punch broke through with his first stakes win in commanding fashion, taking the Grade 3 Salvator Mile Stakes at Monmouth by two lengths on Sept. 20.

Pirate’s Punch is owned by Gulliver Racing, Craig Rager and Dan Legan. He is out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, and is a half-brother to Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes winner and millionaire Girvin and to Grade 3 winner Cocked and Loaded.