With the Breeders’ Cup just around the corner, all eyes were on Aqueduct for two fantastic races, the Kelso Handicap and Bold Ruler Stakes. Here is everything that happened.
Kelso Handicap
Grade 2, 1 mile, open to horses aged three and over. Total prize pool $300,000
- Double Crown +4200
- Baby Yoda -182
- Shackqueenking +950
The highest-graded race of the day came in the form of the Kelso Handicap where six horses cantered down to post.
Leading the betting was the Bill Mott-trained Baby Yoda.
Baby Yoda bought the very best form into the race having competed well in Grade 1 level in the past. Many believed that he was the one to beat here and Javier Castellano was keen to show that he had the best horse in the race.
Happy to sit at the front end of proceedings, Baby Yoda made his move as the horses rounded the home turn and quickly established a three length lead.
With the race at his mercy, it seemed the only question would be how far he would win by.
However, with a furlong to go, the outsider of the field Double Crown burst clear of the chasing pack and set off in pursuit of the longtime leader.
Set at a whopping 42/1 ahead of the race, nobody expected anything from the Norman Cash-trained runner but as the race entered its final knockings, it was the outsider who was traveling the best and was gaining with every stride.
With just a sixteenth left to run, Double Crown finally achieved parity with Baby Yoda and kicked clear.
Having spent so much time in the lead, Baby Yoda was unable to respond and Double Crown would go on to win by two lengths.
Baby Yoda finished streets ahead of Shackquuen who gamely held off the late-charging Empty Tomb to finish third.
Kelso Handicap Race Video
@horseracingtote Double Crown goes gate to wire in the Kelso Handicap #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Horses #Horse #FYP #Sports
♬ original sound – horseracingtote
Bold Ruler Stakes
Grade 3, Six Furlongs, open to horses aged three and over. Total prize pool $200,000
- Runninsonagun +225
- Eastern Bay +600
- Factor It In +800
This year’s Bold Ruler saw ten runners head down to post with the field and betting for the race wide open.
The money came late in the day for the John Toscana-trained Runnisonagun who started the race as a slim favorite.
In a six-furlong dash, the pace was fast and frenetic with the Jorge Vargas-trained Greeley And Ben setting the early fractions. With so much speed in the race, Greeley And Ben couldn’t stretch away from the field and as the horses rounded the home turn he was quickly swallowed up by the pursuing pack.
As the field hit the home straight, the eye was drawn to the wide outside and the smooth traveling Eastern Bay. Looking to have a jump on the field, it looked like Eastern Boy would prevail but the race was to have one more twist.
Always up with the pace, favorite Runninsonagun looked destined for second. Deep inside the final sixteenth of a mile, jockey Kendrick Carmouche asked his mount for more and Runninsonagun duly responded.
Putting in a late finishing burst, Runninsonagun took advantage of a tiring Eastern Bay and stuck his neck out at the line to win by a short head.
In what was a blanket finish, Factor It In finished a close third with Greeley And Ben clinging on for fourth.
Bold Ruler Stakes Race Video
@horseracingtote Runninsonofagun leads the 2022 Bold Ruler #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Horses #Horse #FYP #Sports
♬ original sound – horseracingtote
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