Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Contact: Jon Forbes
BRIBON BACK FOR MORE IN BOLD RULER
Owner Derrick Smith and trainer Todd Pletcher weighed the merits of supplementing Bribon to the Sprint for $180,000 before deciding Monday to point the 7-year-old toward the seven-furlong Bold Ruler and the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on November 27.
“Part of the decision had to do with the supplemental factor, and part of it was his prior history in
Winner of the 2009 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, Bribon added to his tally with a victory in the Grade 2 True North Handicap at
“Everything has gone real smooth since that race and his foot hasn’t been a problem,” said Thomas. “It’s a prep for the Cigar Mile, but it looks like we are coming in with a good horse.”
John Velazquez has the mount aboard Bribon, who was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite and who will leave from the rail as the 120-pound highweight.
Tahitian Warrior, purchased privately by Godolphin Racing following an impressive debut victory at
Tenth on the turf at
“He ran into a hot older horse in Birdrun, who, when he’s good, is usually very good, and is probably than him at a mile” said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “This will be a good chance to see how he fares against older sprinters. We thought about running back in the Fall Highweight Handicap [Grade 3, Aqueduct, November 25] at six furlongs, but we thought that if he’s going to compete against really fast older sprinters that seven is probably better than six.”
Tahitian Warrior, the 5-2 morning-line second choice, drew post 2 and will carry Cornelio Velasquez and 113 pounds.
Wildcat Brief has hit his best stride this year as 4-year-old, earning his first stakes victory in the Icecapade at
“He got a little stronger as he was a little weak in behind when he was three,” said Ben Perkins, Jr., who trains the colt for his father, Benjamin Perkins, Sr. “I also think the Monmouth track has played a little more in his favor this year. He doesn’t have a lot of speed, and last year he had a hard time making up ground.”
The Bold Ruler will be Wildcat Brief’s first start beyond 6 ½ furlongs, but the distance is not Perkins’ top concern.
“He’s always acted like he’d stretch out a little, and it’s more of a question of getting the pace to help him come running at the end,” said Perkins.
Elvis Trujillo will come in to ride Wildcat Brief, the 8-1 fourth choice who will leave from post 3 under 118 pounds.
Another who is just now finding top form is Jack On the Rocks, claimed by trainer Gary Gullo on behalf of owner Funky Munky Stable for $30,000 in January 2009. After finishing second in both a starter allowance at
“Gary Gullo has done an excellent job with him, and the horse has stepped up his game since he moved into his barn,” said Richard Munk, managing partner for Funky Munky Stable. “
Jack On the Rocks, tabbed at 12-1 and assigned 114 pounds, will leave from post 5 with Rajiv Maragh aboard.
Repole Stable’s Roaring Lion defeated Wildcat Brief twice this summer at Monmouth when he won the Mr. Prospector on July 5 and the Teddy Drone on August 1. Favored at 1-2 in the Maryland Million Sprint, the gelding finished third after breaking a step slowly and steadying with a half-mile to go. Roaring Lion, 12-1 on the morning line, will leave from post 5 under Jose Lezcano and 117 pounds.
The field for the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Bribon (FR) | J R Velazquez | 120 | T A Pletcher | 2-1 |
| 2 | Tahitian Warrior (KY) | C H Velasquez | 113 | S bin Suroor | 5-2 |
| 3 | Wildcat Brief (KY) | | 118 | B W Perkins, Jr. | 8-1 |
| 4 | Roaring Lion (MD) | J Lezcano | 117 | B N Levine | 12-1 |
| 5 | Jack On the Rocks (MD) | R Maragh | 114 | G P Gullo | 12-1 |
| 6 | Temecula Creek (FL) | E | 116 | R R Rodriguez | 12-1 |
| 7 | Half Metal Jacket (FL) | R A Dominguez | 116 | R R Rodriguez | 4-1 |
| 8 | | A Garcia | 115 | B Tagg | 10-1 |
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