The rescheduled $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) will once again be headed by stablemates Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa Nov. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The seven-furlong main track test was to have been run Oct. 29 but inclement weather at Belmont Park forced the cancellation of racing after the third race that day. The rescheduling resulted in the defection of two members of the original field, Rodman and Uptowncharlybrown , leaving a field of seven. The race will be the fifth on the Aqueduct card with a 2:19 p.m. EDT post.
Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa, both trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable, faced each other in Belmont’s Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) Oct. 1. Caixa Eletronica closed from last to finish third, beaten by two lengths, while Calibrachoa was bumped early and tired to finish fifth.
Both horses were entered in the Bold Ruler originally, but only Caixa Eletronica was expected to run. With the race having been postponed eight days, the coupled entry was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite. The race serves as their audition for the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 26.
The Cigar Mile has been 6-year-old Caixa Eletronica’s objective since the Vosburgh, according to assistant trainer Whit Beckman.
“For a horse like Caixa, I honestly don’t see (the postponement) being any issue at all,” said Beckman. “Last week he was sitting on a ‘go,’ but he’s doing great and will run as well as he would have.”
Caixa Eletronica captured the Westchester (gr. III) at Belmont in the spring. Following that race, the son of Arromanches reported home third in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) and finished sixth in the James Marvin at Saratoga. He carried heavy imposts to victory in a pair of Saratoga starter handicaps prior to his third in the Vosburgh.
Calibrachoa is returning to the scene of his three biggest wins, having taken the Gravesend, Toboggan (gr. III), and Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) during the previous inner track meet. He was third in both the True North Handicap Presented by Emirates Airline (gr. II) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) before the Vosburgh, in which he finished 8 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Giant Ryan.
“We’d like to see him more forwardly placed than he was in the Vosburgh,” said Beckman. “He was a little far back, and I think that took him out of his game.”
Caixa Eletronica will leave from the rail with John Velazquez aboard, while Calibrachoa will be ridden by Jose Lezcano from post 5. Both horses were given the top impost of 119 pounds.
The 5-2 morning-line second choice for the Bold Ruler is Godolphin Racing’s Sangaree, a half brother to Congaree , who at Aqueduct won the Wood Memorial (gr. I), Carter Handicap (gr. I), and two editions of the Cigar Mile.
Sangaree began his career racing over synthetic surfaces in California and the United Arab Emirates. Sixth on turf in his New York debut, the Rob N Gin overnight stakes in July, he tried dirt for the first time in his most recent start, finishing a neck behind Rule as the runner-up in the Birdstone at Saratoga Aug. 4.
Trainer Steve Asmussen re-entered Justin Phillip and Rule by Night .
A 3-year-old, Zayat Stables' Justin Phillip (7-2) made his first start against older horses in the Vosburgh, tiring to finish sixth after being bumped at the break. He entered the race off five starts around one turn against sophomores, finishing third in both the Bay Shore (gr. III) and Jerome (gr. II) in April at Aqueduct. The son of First Samurai then won the Woody Stephens Presented by VisitNassauCounty.com (gr. II) in June at Belmont before running fourth in the Amsterdam (gr. II) and third in the Foxwoods King’s Bishop (gr. I) in August at Saratoga.
Gold Square’s Rule by Night (4-1) returned to form in his most recent start, dueling for the lead and wearing down Sunrise Smarty to prevail by three-quarters of a length in Belmont’s 6 ½-furlong Duck Dance overnight stakes Oct. 9. It was his first victory since a 9 ¼-length romp in an Aqueduct overnight stakes last November.
Bay Shore winner J J's Lucky Train (10-1) and Flat Bold (12-1) complete the field.
$100,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (gr. III, Race 5, 2:19 p.m.), 3 & Up, 7 furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. a-Caixa Eletronica (KY), J R Velazquez, 119, T A Pletcher
2. Rule by Night (KY), J Castellano, 115, S M Asmussen
3. Justin Phillip (KY), C S Nakatani, 114, S M Asmussen
4. Sangaree (KY), R Maragh, 117, S bin Suroor
5. a-Calibrachoa (KY), J Lezcano, 119, T A Pletcher
6. J J's Lucky Train (KY), J C Ferrer, 114, W D Anderson
7. Flat Bold (KY), R A Dominguez, 114, R R Rodriguez
a- coupled entry
Caixa Eletronica is one half of a strong Repole entry in the Bold Ruler.
Coglianese Photos