Bold Chieftain pulls clear

Bold Chieftain ($3.40) pulled away through the stretch to win the $57,000 Hayes Valley Stakes for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields.

Bold Chieftain was content to let Passive Income and Courting Seattle go early, but he moved up down the backstretch, putting his head in front at the half-mile pole. He and Passive Income raced in tandem around the turn.

Bold Chieftain ducked down into Passive Income but was quickly snatched up and straightened out. He pulled clear, winning the 1 1/16-mile race by five lengths in 1:42.49. Passive Income was five in front of Where's My Halo in the field of four.

The victory was Bold Chieftain's first in a stakes, after he had finished third in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby and the Real Good Deal.

"I was confident the whole way," said Russell Baze, who rode Bold Chieftain. "My horse doesn't have to have the lead, but he's not going to go slow."

Winning trainer Bill Morey Jr., a co-owner and breeder, said, "It's exciting to have a horse we bred run this well. This was perfect for the next spot. Hopefully, we're on to the Bay Meadows Derby. This could be his last time on dirt."

The Bay Meadows Derby will be run Nov. 5.

Bold Chieftain improved to 4 for 7 and earned $35,750, lifting his career earnings to $161,825.