Bold Ruler Stakes

The Bold Ruler Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in late October Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of US$175,000.

History

The race is named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee and 1957 US Horse of the Year, Bold Ruler.

The event was inaugurated on 22 December 1976 at Aqueduct Racetrack at a distance of six furlongs and was won by Chief Tamanaco who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. and trained by the young trainer James Iselin, son of Philip H. Iselin who at the time was Chairman of Monmouth Park Racetrack in a time of 1:09.

In 1978 the event was scheduled to be run in early spring in April and it was raced at that time of the year until 2002. That year the event was moved to Belmont Park and held in May and was duly held then until 2009. In 2009 the event was moved to the Aqueduct Fall Meeting and has been held in late October or early November and at times returning to be scheduled at Belmont Park.

In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1985 for five runnings before being downgraded back to Grade III in 1990.

In the 1998 running, Kelly Kip, ridden by Jean-Luc Samyn, set an Aqueduct rack record of 1:07.61 for the six furlongs distance. Samyn and Kelly Kip returned the following year to break that record, running the six furlongs in 1:07.54.

In 2009 the Bold Ruler was increased in distance to 7 furlongs.

In 2019 Maximum Security set a new stakes record for the seven furlong distance en route to being crowned the US Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.

In 2022 the conditions of the event were changed to a stakes race with allowances. Also the event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park and run at a shorter distance of six furlongs.

Records

Speed record: 7 furlongs: 1:20.76 – Maximum Security (2019) 6 furlongs: 1:07.54 – Kelly Kip (1999)

Margins: lengths – No Dozing (2018)

Most wins: 2 – Dave's Friend (1980, 1981) 2 – Kelly Kip (1998, 1999) 2 – Runninsonofagun (2022, 2024)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1976, 1985, 1987) 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1977, 1998, 1999) 3 – John R. Velazquez (1994, 2001, 2010) 3 – Jose Lezcano (2009, 2011, 2013) 3 – Joel Rosario (2017, 2020, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – H. Allen Jerkens (1995, 1998, 1999, 2009)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Hobeau Farm (1995, 1998, 1999) 3 – David Jacobson (2014, 2016, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct – Bold Ruler Stakes2025Damon's Mound 5Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottCliff & Michele Love6 furlongs1:09.67$175,000III20245Joel RosarioJohn T. Toscano Jr.Karen A. Zimmerman6 furlongs1:09.42$175,000III2023Durante4Manuel FrancoDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson & JKX Racing6 furlongs 1:09.78$200,000III2022Runninsonofagun3John T. Toscano Jr.The Estate of Scott Zimmerman6 furlongs1:10.07$200,000IIIAt Belmont Park – Bold Ruler Handicap2021Wondrwherecraigis4Luis SaezBrittany T. RussellMichael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables & Michael Caruso7 furlongs1:23.31$200,000III2020Majestic Dunhill 5Joel RosarioGeorge WeaverR. A. Hill Stable7 furlongs1:22.48$93,000III2019Maximum Security4Luis SaezJason ServisGary & Mary West7 furlongs1:20.76$200,600IIIAt Aqueduct2018No Dozing4Daniel CentenoArnaud DelacourLael Stables7 furlongs1:23.81$200,000IIIAt Belmont Park2017Tom's Ready4Joel RosarioDallas StewartG M B Racing7 furlongs1:22.06$200,000III2016Stallwalkin' Dude6Irad Ortiz Jr.David JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners 7 furlongs1:21.66$200,000III2015Matrooh5Abel Castellano Jr.Chad C. BrownShadwell Racing7 furlongs1:21.24$196,000III2014Salutos Amigos4David JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable7 furlongs1:21.87$200,000III2013Clearly Now3Jose LezcanoBrian A. LynchUp Hill Stable7 furlongs1:21.52$200,000III2012Buffum4Eddie CastroThomas AlbertraniGodolphin Racing7 furlongs1:21.68$150,000IIIAt Aqueduct2011Calibrachoa4Jose LezcanoTodd A. PletcherMike Repole7 furlongs1:21.32$100,000IIIAt Belmont Park2010Bribon (FR)7John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDerrick Smith7 furlongs1:22.36$100,000IIIAt Aqueduct2009Le Grand Cru4Jose LezcanoH. Allen JerkensJudson Streicher7 furlongs1:22.19$147,000IIIAt Belmont Park20084Alan GarciaKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Racing6 furlongs1:09.14$109,100III2007Songster4Edgar S. PradoSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing6 furlongs1:08.80$105,400III2006Tiger5Eibar CoaJames A. JerkensSusan & John Moore6 furlongs1:08.49$104,700III2005Uncle Camie5Richard MiglioreMichael E. HushionCarmine Telesca and John & Marilyn Guerrera6 furlongs1:08.67$104,600III2004Canadian Frontier5Javier CastellanoStanley M. HoughJoyce Robsham 6 furlongs1:08.97$107,700III2003Shake You Down5Michael J. LuzziScott A. LakeRobert L. Cole Jr.6 furlongs1:08.47$108,400III2002Left Bank5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMichael Tabor6 furlongs1:09.30$102,900IIIAt Aqueduct2001Say Florida Sandy7Joe BravoJuan SereyJohn Rotella6 furlongs1:08.67$109,200III2000Brutally Frank6Shaun BridgmohanMitchell E. FriedmanSunny Meadow Farm6 furlongs1:08.64$109,800III1999Kelly Kip5Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm6 furlongs1:07.54$107,400III1998Kelly Kip4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm6 furlongs1:07.61$110,200III1997Punch Line7Robbie DavisWilliam H. Turner Jr.Althea Richards6 furlongs1:08.80$108,300III1996Lite the Fuse5Julie KroneRichard E. Dutrow Sr.Richard E. Dutrow Sr.6 furlongs1:09.51$107,500III1995Rizzi4Dale V. BecknerH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm6 furlongs1:08.91$107,600III1994§ Chief Desire4John R. VelazquezMichael E. HushionCharles G. Hagedorn6 furlongs1:08.76$110,500IIIBold Ruler Stakes1993Slerp4Jose A. SantosRobert B. Hess Jr.Allan L. Richie6 furlongs1:09.17$117,000III1992Jolies Appeal4Herb McCauleyGasper S. MoscheraJohn Thor6 furlongs1:09.29$112,600III1991Rousing Past4Nick SantagataCarlos F. MartinTri Noble Stable6 furlongs1:09.80$112,000III1990Mr. Nickerson4Chris AntleyMark J. ReidRobert H. A. Nixon6 furlongs1:09.20$110,400III1989Pok Ta Pok4Richard MiglioreWilliam H. Turner Jr.Barbara Turner6 furlongs1:09.80$112,600II1988King's Swan8Chris AntleyAlvin Akman6 furlongs1:10.20$127,800II 1987Pine Tree Lane5Angel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasLeonard D. Mathis6 furlongs1:09.00$172,800II1986Phone Trick4Jorge VelasquezRichard E. MandellaHowell Wynne6 furlongs1:08.80$117,800II1985Rocky Marriage5Angel Cordero Jr.Robert J. Frankel Sidney L. Port 6 furlongs1:08.80$85,650II1984Top Avenger6Antonio GraellJack D. LudwigJohn A. Franks6 furlongs1:09.80$92,250III1983Maudlin5Jerry D. BaileyJan H. NerudTartan Stable6 furlongs1:11.60$82,500III 19824Jimmy J. MirandaJohn P. CampoRockwood Stable6 furlongs1:09.40$81,000III 1981Dave's Friend6Anthony S. BlackRobert L. BeallJohn A. Franks6 furlongs1:09.60$80,850 1980Dave's Friend5Vincent Bracciale Jr.Robert L. Beall Robert L. Beall 6 furlongs1:09.80$81,150 1979Star de Naskra4Jeffrey FellRichard D. FerrisCarlyle J. Lancaster6 furlongs1:09.20$80,700 Bold Ruler Handicap1978Half High5Angel SantiagoEdward J. Coletti Sr.Leon J. Hekimian6 furlongs1:09.40$42,775 1977Jaipur's Gem4Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonJacqueline Crotty6 furlongs1:09.60$36,750 1976Chief Tamanaco3Angel Cordero Jr.James IselinGreat Wolf Hill Farm6 furlongs1:09.80$36,250

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In 2024, My Buddy B won the race but was disqualified to second after stewards ruled she had bumped and interfered with Runninsonofagun in the stretch run.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References