Godolphin Racing's Buffum came out running and never stopped as he posted a gate-to-wire score in the $150,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) at Belmont Park Oct. 27.
Buffum, a 4-year-old Bernardini colt, shot to the lead from the inside post and ticked off fractions of :22.55 and :45.24 while being tracked intently by Associate and Little Drama on the far outside. Facing a serious challenge from those two rivals straightening for home, Buffum found an extra gear inside the eighth pole. He held well for a 1 1/4-length victory over Little Drama, with Associate finishing third, another half-length back.
It was the first stakes victory for Buffum, whose time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.68 over a fast track.
"He broke good and put himself right there, it was the only choice," said winning jockey Eddie Castro.
The victory was the second in three 2012 starts for Buffum, who was coming off a 3 1/2-month layoff following a sixth-place finish in the Suburban Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont. He began the year with an eight-length score at Belmont in May in which he recorded a career-best 105 Beyer speed figure at a mile.
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Location: Aqueduct Racetrack
Distance: 6 furlong sprint
Track: Dirt, left-handed
Qualification: Three-years-old & up
Weight: Assigned
Purse: $150,000
Nov 9, 2011 -- Calibrachoa captured his fifth race in as many starts at Aqueduct Racetrack with a victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap. Making his first start at the Big A since March, Calibrachoa prompted pacesetter Rule by Night through opening fractions of 22.29 and 45.25 seconds, claimed a narrow lead at the quarter pole, and shook clear of his rivals in the stretch to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths over Sangaree.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2012 | Buffum |
2011 | Calibrachoa |
2010 | Bribon |
2009 | Le Gran Cru |
2008 | Lucky Island |
2007 | Songster |
2006 | Tiger |
2005 | Uncle Camie |
2004 | Canadian Frontier |
2003 | Shake You Down |
2002 | Left Bank |
2001 | Say Florida Sandy |
2000 | Brutally Frank |