After knocking on the door in several Stakes races on the turf this year, Bohemian found herself finally in the winner’s circle after a furious last-to-first charge to win the $250,000 listed Pucker Up Stakes by a head at Ellis Park Aug. 2.
The victory in the Pucker Up was the first Stakes win for the three-year-old Essential Quality filly, after finishing in the top three in Stakes races at Sam Houston Race Park and Fair Grounds earlier this year.
Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, Bohemian was off a step slowly and took up her usual spot at the rear of the field as East Jabip and Embrace Time battled for the early lead. Bohemian continued to anchor the rear of the field down the backstretch as she moved out to the three-path for a clear run in the stretch.
Swinging out even wider into the five-path at the top of the lane, Bohemian was set down for the drive by Rispoli with a furlong left to run. Bohemian came with a furious run down the center of the course, just getting up in time to win by a head on the wire over Turner’s Charm. Embrace Time was a half-length back in third, with East Jabip a neck back in fourth.
Bohemian was bred by Hinkle Farms in Kentucky and was produced from the Kitten's Joy mare Eileen's Song. The latter is a half-sister to G1 Del Mar Oaks winner Rutherienne, who earned $1,133,755 and won or placed in an additional 15 Graded Stakes races. Also active in the immediate family is Fully Subscribed (Tiz the Law), winner of the G2 Shuvee Stakes and second in both the G1 La Troienne and Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2026.
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality was represented by 19 winners in his first crop and has sired six Stakes winners so far in 2026. In addition to Bohemian, he is the sire of Stakes winners The Puma (G3 Tampa Bay Derby), Bull by the Horns (Rushaway Stakes), My World (Jerome Stakes), Black Hornet (Black Gold Stakes), and Essential Lady (Curtis Sampson Oaks).
