Belmont Park: Strapping Groom may be hard to catch in Bold Ruler

[bc_video_id:308240:]ELMONT, N.Y. – While it would not have been surprising had they opted to pre-enter Strapping Groom in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint next week, the connections of the 6-year-old opted for a much more logical spot in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.

The Bold Ruler, run at seven furlongs, shares billing with the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares as Belmont hosts its final two graded events of the fall meet, which concludes Sunday.

Strapping Groom, claimed for $35,000 by Drawing Away Stable and trainer David Jacobson in May, has subsequently won three stakes, including the Grade 1 Forego at 15-1 on Aug. 31. That win came a day after these same connections lost their terrific New York-bred sprinter Saginaw to a fatal leg injury.

Following the Forego, Strapping Groom ran third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh here, 4 3/4 lengths behind Private Zone and Justin Phillip, both of whom are headed to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“I’m very happy with the way he ran. That was a big race coming out of the Forego,” Jacobson said. “It’s hard to maintain a Saginaw-like win streak against those kinds of horses. I’m glad all the big shots went to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Strapping Groom’s biggest strength is his early speed, and in this field there does not appear to be an abundance of early speed types. Junior Alvarado rides from post 6.

Forty Tales and Clearly Now, both 3-year-olds, figure to take plenty of money in the Bold Ruler. Forty Tales won the Grade 2 Woody Stephens here in June and the Grade 3 Amsterdam at Saratoga in July. In his two most recent races, he finished fourth, with traffic, as the favorite in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga and fourth in the Vosburgh, his first start against older horses.

Forty Tales, who will break from the rail under Joel Rosario, could be compromised by the lack of early pace in this field.

“I was actually surprised how little pace for a sprint that it looks like there is in there,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Forty Tales. “As these races have unfolded he’s dropped way back, but I don’t think he’s a horse that has to drop way back so we’ll have to play it by ear. But it is concerning how little speed is in there for a race like that.”

Clearly Now won the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream in March. He has lost his next four races by a combined two lengths. In the Grade 3 Gallant Bob at Parx, Clearly Now appeared to hang in deep stretch, although he was on the worst part of the track on a day when the rail was golden. Trainer Brian Lynch adds blinkers to his equipment.

Saturday’s Charm, second in the De Francis Dash last out at Laurel Park, has been training very well for this spot. Big Screen, winner of an overnight stakes on turf last out, and Politicallycorrect, runner-up in the James Marvin two starts back at Saratoga, complete the field.