Fatal Bullet Guns Down Bold Venture Foes

Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker completed a sweep of Woodbine's stakes races July 20 when Fatal Bullet captured the $150,836 Bold Venture Stakes in track-record time over the Polytrack racing surface.

Ridden for the first time by Eurico Rosa da Silva, the stalking Fatal Bullet swept past Vigil Stakes (Can-III) winner Disfunction in upper stretch en route to a three-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture. The final time of 1:14.54 broke the mark established May 19 by Home for Harlan of 1:14.82.

Three races earlier on the program, Bear Now, with Jerry Baird in the irons, took the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes for Bear Stables and Baker.

Fatal Bullet earned his first stakes victory after running eighth most recently, 17 lengths behind J Be K in the Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 7. The lone 3-year-old in a field of seven, the Florida-bred Red Bullet gelding was sent off at odds of nearly 6-1.

Fatal Bullet is perfect in four starts in 2008 over Woodbine's Polytrack. Overall, he has five wins and a second in eight starts with earnings of $248,476. Out of the Regal Classic mare Sararegal, Fatal Bullet was bred by Adena Springs and sold for $27,000 at his breeder's 2007 2-year-olds in training sale.

“At Belmont it was 97 degrees, it was the dirt, and that J Be K horse, he’s a superstar,” said Baker. “(Fatal Bullet) was coming into this race in great, great shape. He’s a calm, cool horse. Going down the backside, I thought we couldn’t lose.”

The winner sat just off fast fractions set by Disfunction (:22.39, :44.59) for the opening half-mile, made a strong bid leaving the turn, and drove clear in the lane. Disfunction, ridden by Emile Ramsammy, held second by one length over Last Gran Standing and Rene Douglas.
 
Fatal Bullet paid $13.80, $7.30 and $4.70, and combined with Disfunction ($4.60, $2.40) for a $71 exacta. Last Gran Standing ($3.70) capped a $284.10 trifecta.

Favored Legal Move finished fourth.

(Chart, Equibase)