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 |
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | No Dozing | 5 | D. Centeno | A. Delacour | 1:23.81 |
| 2017 | Tom's Ready | 4 | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | 1:22.06 |
| 2016 | Stallwalkin' Dude | 6 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | David Jacobson | 1:21.66 |
| 2015 | Matrooh | 5 | Abel Castellano, Jr. | Chad C. Brown | 1:21.24 |
| 2014 | Salutos Amigos | 4 | Cornelio Velasquez | David Jacobson | 1:21.87 |
| 2013 | Clearly Now | 3 | Jose Lezcano | Brian A. Lynch | 1:21.52 |
| 2012 | Buffum | 4 | Eddie Castro | Thomas Albertrani | 1:21.68 |
| 2011 | Calibrachoa | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Todd Pletcher | 1:21.32 |
| 2010 | Bribon | 7 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 1:22.36 |
| 2009 | Le Gran Cru | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Allen Jerkens | 1:22.19 |
| 2008 | Lucky Island | 4 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran McLaughlin | 1:09.14 |
| 2007 | Songster | 4 | Edgar Prado | Saeed bin Suroor | 1:08.80 |
| 2006 | Tiger | 5 | Eibar Coa | James A. Jerkens | 1:08.49 |
| 2005 | Uncle Camie | 5 | Richard Migliore | Michael E. Hushion | 1:08.67 |
| 2004 | Canadian Frontier | 5 | Javier Castellano | Stanley M. Hough | 1:08.97 |
| 2003 | Shake You Down | 5 | Mike Luzzi | Scott A. Lake | 1:08.47 |
| 2002 | Left Bank | 5 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | 1:09.30 |
| 2001 | Say Florida Sandy | 7 | Joe Bravo | Juan Serey | 1:08.67 |
| 2000 | Brutally Frank | 6 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Mitchell Friedman | 1:08.64 |
| 1999 | Kelly Kip | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | 1:07.54 |
| 1998 | Kelly Kip | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | 1:07.61 |
| 1997 | Punch Line | 7 | Robbie Davis | William Turner, Jr. | 1:08.80 |
| 1996 | Lite The Fuse | 5 | Julie Krone | Richard Dutrow, Sr. | 1:09.51 |
| 1995 | Rizzi | 4 | Dale Beckner | H. Allen Jerkens | 1:08.91 |
| 1994 | Chief Desire | 4 | John Velazquez | Michael E. Hushion | 1:08.76 |
| 1993 | Slerp | 4 | Jose A. Santos | Robert B. Hess, Jr. | 1:09.17 |
| 1992 | Jolies Appeal | 4 | Herb McCauley | Gasper Moschera | 1:09.29 |
| 1991 | Rousing Past | 4 | Nick Santagata | Carlos F. Martin | 1:09.80 |
| 1990 | Mr. Nickerson | 4 | Chris Antley | Mark J. Reid | 1:09.20 |
| 1989 | Pok Ta Pok | 4 | Richard Migliore | William Turner, Jr. | 1:09.80 |
| 1988 | King's Swan | 8 | Chris Antley | Richard Dutrow, Sr. | 1:10.20 |
| 1987 | Pine Tree Lane | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | 1:09.00 |
| 1986 | Phone Trick | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | Richard Mandella | 1:08.80 |
| 1985 | Rocky Marriage | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Robert J. Frankel | 1:08.80 |
| 1984 | Top Avenger | 6 | Antonio Graell | Jack D. Ludwig | 1:09.80 |
| 1983 | Maudlin | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Jan H. Nerud | 1:11.60 |
| 1982 | Always Run Lucky | 4 | Jimmy Miranda | John P. Campo | 1:09.40 |
| 1981 | Dave's Friend | 6 | Anthony Black | Robert L. Beall | 1:09.60 |
| 1980 | Dave's Friend | 5 | Vince Bracciale, Jr. | Robert L. Beall | 1:09.80 |
| 1979 | Star De Naskra | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Richard D. Ferris | 1:09.20 |
| 1978 | Half High | 5 | Angel Santiago | Edward Coletti | 1:09.40 |
| 1977 | Jaipur's Gem | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | 1:09.60 |
| 1976 | Chief Tamanaco | 3 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | James Iselin | 1:09.80 |
