Contrary Thinking in a good spot to land first stakes in Bold Ruler
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Contrary Thinking’s job has changed significantly in the last year.
When trained by Chad Brown, he served as a pacemaker for Sierra Leone in major stakes around two turns in the second half of 2025. Now with Amelia Green, Contrary Thinking races in sprints and can win his first stakes in his 14th race in Sunday’s Grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes at six furlongs at Belmont Park.
Contrary Thinking is part of a field of six in the $200,000 Bold Ruler, and starts after mixed results in his last two appearances.
A 6-year-old gelding, Contrary Thinking won an allowance race at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 14 after setting the pace, but was eighth of nine in the Grade 3 Vosburgh Stakes at seven furlongs at Belmont Park on Oct. 1, failing to reach the front and fading from contention through the stretch.
Contrary Thinking started from post 2 in the Vosburgh, and drew the outside post in the Bold Ruler, which could be a tactical advantage, according to Green.
“Against that competition and the draw he had, he was not able to get the lead and that cost him,” Green said of the Vosburgh. “He didn’t get a clean trip.
“He’s not that fast out of the gate. It takes him three or four strides to find his stride.”
Manny Franco rides Contrary Thinking for the first time in the Bold Ruler.
“Being on the outside, hopefully, he can get a clean trip,” Green said.
Green considered starting Contrary Thinking in Sunday’s Grade 3 Forty Niner Stakes at a mile, but opted for the shorter stakes.
“I think six is as short as I’d want to go with him,” she said on Friday. “This race came up easier than the Forty Niner. I like how he’s training. He came off the track this morning bucking and playing.”
Contrary Thinking, who races for Lucky Hat Racing and EGL-One Racing, was purchased for $130,000 at the Fasig-Tipton May digital sale. Contrary Thinking was owned by Peter Brant for part of 2025 and served as a pacesetter for stablemate Sierra Leone in races such as the Whitney Handicap and BC Classic at Del Mar last November, when he faded from the front and finished last of nine.
Contrary Thinking was trained by Brown until he was moved to Green after the digital sale.
In the Bold Ruler, Contrary Thinking’s two main rivals are Commuted, who has won his last two starts in starter allowance races at six furlongs as a closer, and Buccherino, who won his fifth career stakes by disputing the pace in the $150,000 Stable Recovery Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Parx Racing on Sept. 19.
Buccherino won the Sept. 19 race by a head after holding a two-length advantage with a furlong remaining. Buccherino was second in the 2025 Bold Ruler when the race was run at Aqueduct during Belmont’s redevelopment.
Turnback the Alarm
Donor Advised, second to the star filly Nitrogen in the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes on Sept. 25, can win her first stakes in Sunday’s $175,000 Turnback the Alarm Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stable, Donor Advised won her first start of 2026 in a one-mile allowance race at Saratoga on Aug. 30. In the Beldame at 1 1/8 miles, Donor Advised stalked the pace and was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Nitrogen, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2025.
Donor Advised finished 13 1/2 lengths clear of Boutwell Time, who is part of a field of seven in the Turnback the Alarm.
Donor Advised, a 4-year-old with two wins in six starts, races as a stalker and is likely to be joined in that position by Scalable, a four-time stakes winner trained by Todd Pletcher.
Scalable won consecutive stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct earlier this year – the Ladies Stakes and Top Flight Stakes – but has been beaten in her last four races. Scalable was second of six in the Philly Special Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards at Parx on Sept. 19 in her most recent start after starting from the inside post in a field of six.
In the Turnback the Alarm Stakes, Scalable drew the outside post and will be in pursuit of projected leader Snowyte, who drew the inside post.
Snowyte finished third in the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes and a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga’s summer meeting. She held an early lead in both races.
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