Caixa Electronica Well Spotted in Bold Ruler

Caixa Eletronica, a 6-year-old son of Arromanches, has won five races from 10 starts in 2011, including a pair of starter handicaps at Saratoga Race Course, successfully toting 127 pounds going six furlongs on August 15 and carrying 131 pounds to victory traveling 1 1/8 miles on August 26. He returned to graded stakes competition for the six-furlong Vosburgh, rallying from last of eight to finish third, beaten two lengths.

“He closed a lot of ground [in the Vosburgh],” said Whit Beckman, assistant to Pletcher. “It wasn’t the quickest pace you had ever seen, but he’s an unbelievable horse, coming from where he came from to where he is now. He’s gone out carrying high weight, low weight and showed up. We know he likes the track and we know he likes New York, but he’s one of these horses, I guarantee you, anywhere you take him in the United States, he’s going to go out and give you everything he’s got and finish in the top four or five. He’s just that nice of a horse and just tries his hardest every time.”

The Bold Ruler could serve as a prep for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap on November 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Beckman said.

“[In the Bold Ruler], there’s added distance and, hopefully, a little bit of class relief for [Caixa Eletronica],” added Beckman. “He’s one of those horses who goes out and gives his all every time, so no matter what he’s going to be competitive in the race.”

John Velazquez will ride Caixa Eletronica, who was assigned 119 pounds, from post position 2.

Caixa Eletronica’s connections also entered Calibrachoa in the Bold Ruler, but the Vosburgh fifth-place finisher is unlikely to run, according to Repole. The coupled entry was made the 5-2 favorite on the morning line.

The Cigar Mile is also on the agenda for Barry Schwartz’s Rodman, who enters the Bold Ruler off a fourth in the Grade 1, 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational on October 1. The Bold Ruler will be his first start in a sprint since he was runner-up in an optional claimer on Aqueduct’s inner track in February, his first start off a 14-month layoff.

“I saw the Cigar Mile on the calendar,” said trainer Mike Hushion of the decision to have Rodman cut back in distance for the Bold Ruler. “Some of the Breeders’ Cup horses probably won’t make it, although typically they do. I thought we could get this in him or have him breeze five times in between, so the decision was to try this. If you are a mile horse, what’s wrong with seven eighths? Being 6 years old, he knows what it’s all about and he doesn’t worry about it. And he’s a horse I’d rather run than train a lot. He is 6 and he’s had his issues, and I just want to get him [to the race].”

Rodman’s record at Belmont includes a second-place finish in the Met Mile at 36-1 and a third in June’s Grade 2 Suburban Handicap. He was eighth in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap in August following the Suburban and prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Ramon Dominguez has the call aboard Rodman, the 3-1 co-second choice on the morning line who will carry 117 pounds from post 5.

Justin Phillip and Rule by Night will carry the torch for the Steve Asmussen barn in the Bold Ruler.

A 3-year-old, Justin Phillip 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 Grade 3 Bay Shore and Grade 2 Jerome in April at Aqueduct, winning the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Presented by VisitNassauCounty.com in June at Belmont, and finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam and third in the Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop in August at Saratoga.

Owned by Zayat Stables, Justin Phillip was installed at 5-1 on the morning line and will leave from post 7 under 114 pounds, including Alan Garcia.

Gold Square’s Rule by Night 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 on October 9. It was his first victory since a 9 ¼-length romp in an Aqueduct overnight stakes last November.

Corey Nakatani will ride Rule by Night, 8-1 on the morning line and assigned 115 pounds, from post 9.

From the rail out, the Bold Ruler field also includes Uptowncharlybrown, second to Tapizar in an October 8 optional claimer; Flat Bold, third in the Duck Dance, his first start since being claimed for $75,000; J J’s Lucky Train, who defeated Justin Phillip in the Bay Shore in April; and Sangaree, second in the Birdstone at Saratoga.

The field for the Grade 3, $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap: