Repole Entry Favored in Bold Ruler

Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa faced each other in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on October 1, with the former closing from last to finish third and the latter racing evenly to finish fifth.

Both horses were entered in the Bold Ruler when it was scheduled for October 29, but only Caixa Eletronica was expected to run. With the race having been postponed eight days, both members of the Repole Stable coupled entry that was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite are now expected to start in the Bold Ruler, which will serve as their audition for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap on November 26.

The Cigar Mile has been Caixa Eletronica’s long-term objective since the Vosburgh, and the revised schedule will not change the Todd Pletcher stable’s plans for the 6-year-old, according to assistant trainer Whit Beckman.

“For a horse like Caixa, I honestly don’t see [the postponement of the Bold Ruler] being any issue at all,” said Beckman. “Last week he was sitting on a ‘go,’ but he’s doing great and will run as well as he would have. He’s one of the horses where I don’t think where anything you do can bother him. He’s going to go out there and put it all on the line every time. We know he’ll run up to his standard [if he goes on to the Cigar Mile], whether it be two weeks or three weeks or whatever.”

Caixa Eletronica seeks his second graded stakes win, having captured the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont in the spring. Following that race, the son of Arromanches reported home third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, finished sixth in the James Marvin at Saratoga, and carried heavy imposts to victory in a pair of Saratoga starter handicaps prior to his third in the Vosburgh, in which he was defeated two lengths.

“He closed a lot of ground [in the Vosburgh],” said Beckman. “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.”

Calibrachoa is returning to the scene of his three biggest wins, having taken the Gravesend, Grade 3 Toboggan, and Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap during the previous inner track meet. He was third in both the Grade 2 True North Handicap Presented by Emirates Airline and Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap before he finished 8 ½ lengths behind the winner in the Vosburgh.

“We’d like to see him more forwardly placed than he was in the Vosburgh,” said Beckman. “He was a little far back, and I think that took him out of his game. He needs to get out of there settled and stay fairly close. A lot will depend on him getting into a good rhythm and getting a good trip. He’s not like Caixa where he can come from 20 lengths out of it.”

Caixa Eletronica will leave from the rail with John Velazquez aboard, while Calibrachoa will have the services of Jose Lezcano from post position 5. Both horses were given an impost of 119 pounds.

The 5-2 morning-line second choice for the Bold Ruler is Godolphin Racing’s Sangaree, a half-brother to Congaree, who at Aqueduct won the Wood Memorial, Carter Handicap, and two editions of the Cigar Mile.

Sangaree began his career racing over synthetic surfaces in California and the United Arab Emirates. Sixth on turf in his New York debut, the Rob N Gin overnight stakes in July, he tried dirt for the first time in his most recent start, finishing a neck behind Rule as the runner-up in the Birdstone at Saratoga on August 4.

Rajiv Maragh will ride Sangaree, assigned 117 pounds, from post 4.

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.

Justin Phillip will leave from post 3 carrying 117 pounds, including Corey Nakatani, as the 7-2 third choice on the morning line.

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.

Javier Castellano will ride Rule by Night, weighted at 115 pounds and tabbed at 4-1 on the morning line, from post 2.

J J’s Lucky Train and Flat Bold complete the field.

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