Paradise Valley gives trainer Kantarmaci first graded stakes win with Bold Ruler
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Paradise Valley, the winner of a $50,000 claiming race at Belmont Park on Oct. 10, won for the third time this year in his 12th start with a narrow victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes at six furlongs at Belmont Park.
Paradise Valley gave trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci his first graded stakes win, and the fifth stakes win of his career, all in the last two years.
Paradise Valley ($29.64) closed from fifth in a field of six to win the $200,000 Bold Ruler Stakes by a head over even-money favorite Commuted, who closed from last. Buccherino, the 2-1 second choice, stalked the early pace and was in contention in the stretch, but finished third by 1 1/2 lengths in the field of six.
Ridden by Samuel Marin, Paradise Valley was timed in 1:09.16.
Stickupwithagun, also trained by Kantarmaci, set an early pace of 22.69 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.41 for a half-mile, leading by a much as 1 1/2 lengths on the backstretch.
“I knew there was some speed. My horse is pretty fast, too, but he doesn’t have to have it,” Marin said of setting the pace. “There was speed enough for me not to chase them, and it worked out perfect.”
Paradise Valley, a 6-year-old gelding by Lookin at Lucky, was supplemented to the Bold Ruler for $1,000 when entries were taken on Nov. 1.
Paradise Valley has won 10 of 34 starts and earned $493,320. Kantarmaci claimed Paradise Valley for $55,000 in May when the gelding won a seven-furlong race at Aqueduct. Paradise Valley has since won 2 of 7 starts and earned $183,590.
Kantarmaci, 38, comes from a family of trainers, including his father, Tuncay, and brother, Mertkan.
“I’ve won graded races before with my dad and with my brother, but this is good,” Kantarmaci said. “So emotional.”
Kantarmaci co-owns Paradise Valley with Zilla Racing Stables, Steven Forst, America’s Pastime Stables, Five Horsemen Stables and Rounds Racing.
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