Uncle Camie Storms to Bold Ruler Victory

(from Belmont Park report)
Trainer Scott Lake's lofty plans for Don Six took a temporary detour Saturday afternoon as the 3-5 favorite burned himself out in the lane, allowing Uncle Camie to storm by for a 2 ¾-length victory $106,600 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Uncle Camie, who rated well in second, came outside and won in 1:08 3/5, one second off the track record, and one-fifth of a second off Shake You Down's 2003 stakes record.

"When he came out of the paddock pumped up like Arnold Schwarzenegger, I knew Don Six would have to run his best to beat us," winning jockey Richard Migliore said.

Don Six broke a bit behind Uncle Camie, and then was sent to the lead by jockey Aaron Gryder. Don Six's speed proved his undoing, as he went the first quarter in :21 1/5,the half in :43 4/5 and five furlongs in :55 3/5. That :55 3/5 just happens to match the five-furlong track record set by Kelly Kip in 1996. And Don Six was carrying 120 pounds to Uncle Camie's 114.

"He went very fast early," said Lake. "Aaron (Gryder, jockey) gunned him, and you can't really do that with him. If he breaks slow, you just have to sit with him. Aaron said he was trying to slow him down, but once you get him going, you're not going to get him back. We plan on coming back on Belmont Stakes Day in the True North (June 11). Aaron just made a mistake today. What are you going to do?"

Uncle Camie deserves plenty of credit, as do trainer Mike Hushion and Migliore. For his eighth win in 19 starts, Uncle Camie paid $10.80, $3.30 and $2.30. He won for the third time in four starts this year and earned $63,960 to increase his career earnings to $317,530 with eight wins in 19 starts.

Don Six returned $2.60 and $2.10, and Thunder Touch paid $2.40 to show.

"I was a little worried about the rain, because his mud races were a little borderline," Hushion said. "But that didn't turn out to be a problem. We came into the race thinking we could beat Don Six. Uncle Camie has been a borderline top, top sprinter. He had throat surgery before his last race, and that seemed to help him get the last 70 yards."

Completing the order of finish were Thunder Touch, Dashboard Drummer and Kazoo, while Willy o'the Valley was scratched.

(Chart, Equibase)