Opportunity knocks for Bar of Gold in Ruffian

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer John Kimmel can’t help but think that Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park sets up well for his 5-year-old mare Bar of Gold.

With rain in the forecast, there is the likelihood of a wet surface, and Bar of Gold is 5 for 5 over wet surfaces in her career. Two of those wins came at Belmont, including an 18-length romp last October in the Empire Distaff against New York-breds.

Bar of Gold is drawn on the outside in a five-horse field that includes Highway Star, who like Bar of Gold is owned by Chester and Mary Broman. Since Highway Star is already a graded-stakes winner, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Bromans scratched her to await something like the Critical Eye at Belmont on May 29.

Kimmel believes Bar of Gold got enough out of her fourth-place finish in the Plenty of Grace Stakes on turf to move forward in her second start of the year.

“It looks very good for her,” Kimmel said. “Her turf race is a lot better than what it appears. She has affinity for moisture in the track and has run very well at Belmont. It makes me nervous to say those things because she’s had so much bad luck over the years. There are races I think she could’ve won with a little bit of luck.”

Though she is 0 for 11 in graded stakes, Bar of Gold has finished second or third six times.

Highway Star and High Ridge Road both finished ahead of Bar of Gold in the Grade 3 Go for Wand last December at Aqueduct. Highway Star is 3 for 3 at Belmont and 3 for 3 at a one-turn mile.

Her only loss in her last five starts came in the Ladies Handicap over the inner track at Aqueduct. Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo said he believes she didn’t like the inner track. Ubillo said he’d like to run Highway Star on Saturday, but the decision will be made by the Bromans.

High Ridge Road is 2 for 2 over a sloppy track, including a nine-length victory in an allowance at Laurel last May. High Ridge Road is 4 for 5 at a one-turn mile, with her loss coming by a nose to Highway Star in the Go for Wand.

High Ridge Road is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

“I don’t know if she just didn’t like the track,” trainer Linda Rice said. “She certainly didn’t put forth her usual effort, so we’re going to throw that out and hope it goes better this time.”

Indulgent, the runner-up to Highway Star in the Grade 3 Distaff going seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 9, and Verve’s Tale, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct last November, round out the field.