Bold Journey reunites with Cancel to take Gravesend

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bold Journey was one of Eric Cancel’s better horses before the jockey was injured with a broken foot in a spill at Belmont in June that sidelined him for approximately four months.

Saturday, Cancel reunited with Bold Journey for the first time since late spring and got to experience firsthand just how much the 4-year-old New York-bred son of Hard Spun has improved over the last six months.

Sitting fourth behind strong factions set by Rotknee, Bold Journey split horses sweetly inside the eighth pole and drew clear to win the $150,000 Gravesend Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct. Rotknee, who set those early fractions, held second by a nose over Durante, who was a head better than Stage Left. Greeley and Ben, one week after winning the Dave’s Friend at Laurel, finished last of five.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

Bold Journey added the Gravesend to a victory in last month’s Grade 3 Fall Highweight. He has won three straight races and went 5 for 10 in 2023.

Cancel rode Bold Journey to victory in a dirt allowance race here in February and a turf allowance at Belmont on June 9. Eight days after that turf win, Cancel was injured and though he rode a few more days thereafter, he later underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot.

Cancel, who returned to riding on Nov. 2, said he noticed a difference in the Bold Journey he rode Saturday and the one he rode in June.

“He was very explosive today,” Cancel said. “As soon as I asked him, he didn’t hesitate, he didn’t take awhile like he usually does. Today, he just exploded and from there I just had to hang on tight.”

Bold Journey, owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, and trained by Bill Mott, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.46 over a track labeled fast. He returned $8.10 as the third choice in the field of five.

Durante, who finished second to Bold Journey in the Fall Highweight, was sent off the 4-5 favorite, bettors believing he was the primary speed under Manny Franco.

But Rotknee also had speed and Jose Lezcano was intent on using it, outsprinting Duante to the lead through a quarter in 21.94 seconds and a half-mile in 44.95, while opening up a three-length advantage. Lezcano said being in front was his plan Saturday.

“My horse feels like he runs better when he’s on the lead,” Lezcano said. “I broke a step behind and put him in the race and he gave me the race I expected him to give me.”

Mott has previously said he would like to keep Bold Journey at six furlongs. The next such stakes in New York is the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap on March 2.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.