Bar of Gold goes after elusive graded stakes win in Ruffian

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer John Kimmel certainly wouldn’t mind if Belmont’s main track came up sloppy on Saturday, when he sends out Bar of Gold in the Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at a mile, her 12th attempt at winning her first graded stakes.

Bar of Gold was entered in the Grade 3 Vagrancy last Friday at Belmont, and though she is 5 for 5 over wet tracks and the track came up sloppy, Kimmel opted not to run her at the Vagrancy’s 6 1/2-furlong distance.

“As she’s gotten older, bigger, and stronger, my impression is she’s a little better going farther than six or 6 1/2 furlongs,” Kimmel said. “I think a mile or a mile and a sixteenth is going to be better for her.”

Bar of Gold’s most impressive victory came last October, when she won the Empire Distaff by 18 lengths in the slop here, earning a 109 Beyer Speed Figure.

“That’ll win many Grade 1 races,” Kimmel said.

Joel Rosario will ride Bar of Gold. Chester and Mary Broman, the owners and breeders of Bar of Gold, also will send out Highway Star in the Ruffian. Highway Star is coming off a half-length victory in the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct. Highway Star is 3 for 3 at Belmont and 3 for 3 in one-mile races run around one turn.

Also entered are High Ridge Road, the winner of the Barbara Fritchie Stakes, Indulgent, and Verve’s Tale.