Aqueduct: Calibrachoa reaffirms affinity for Big A by taking Bold Ruler

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Calibrachoa, who swept four starts at Aqueduct last fall and winter, got back on the winning track in Sunday’s Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap, improving to 5 for 5 on the Big A’s two dirt surfaces.

Calibrachoa began the year by winning the Toboggan and Tom Fool for Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher, but the 4-year-old had lost three subsequent starts, all on wet tracks, finishing third in the True North and Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and fifth most recently in the Vosburgh.

Breaking alertly under Jose Lezcano, Calibrachoa ($4.20) pressed 5-2 second choice Rule by Night through early fractions of 22.69 and 45.25 seconds, wrested command in midstretch after six furlongs in 1:08.77, and drew clear to score by 2 3/4 lengths over Sangaree. It was a neck farther back to the winner’s entrymate, Caixa Electronica, in third. Rule by Night faded to fourth, completing the $40 trifecta. Flat Bold and Justin Phillip completed the order of finish.

Calibrachoa ran seven furlongs in 1:21.32, the fastest Bold Ruler clocking since the race was lengthened from six furlongs in 2009.

“He broke real good,” said Lezcano. “I was watching the replays, read the (Daily Racing Form), and it looked like he liked Aqueduct.”

The Bold Ruler had originally been scheduled for the Oct. 29 card at Belmont Park that was halted after three races due to a freak snowstorm.

In overnight stakes action Sunday:
* Lezcano guided Wallis ($6.10) to a five-length triumph in the $60,000 Spice Island. The 4-year-old Wallis was making her second start in the U.S. for Christophe Clement.

* Il Villano ($8.60) posted a wire-to-wire victory in the $60,000 Lord Henribee for 2-year-olds. Love Those Boots chased in second throughout, and 6-5 favorite Glib checked in third.

* The Clement-trained Summer Front ($8.20) outkicked 8-5 favorite Liquidity Trap to win the $60,000 King Cugat for 2-year-old turf routers.
Clement looked to be in good position to sweep the day’s three grass stakes with Good Karma in the $60,000 Middle Stage, but the European import weakened late after setting the pace and was overtaken by the other Italian-bred import, Master Shade ($23), who edged away late for Team Valor International and Graham Motion. My Redbyrd closed late to catch Good Karma for second.

* Managed Account ($15.80) came off the rail in the stretch, and wore down pacesetter Launch Commander in the one-mile, $75,000 Toccet for 2-year-olds.