River Rocks looks tough to beat in Bold Ruler
ELMONT, N.Y. – Though he lost, River Rocks confirmed himself as a legitimate graded stakes horse in last month’s Grade 2 Kelso Handicap here.
On Saturday, he’ll get a chance to validate that statement when he heads a seven-horse field entered in the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.
River Rocks, a 4-year-old son of Western Pride, opened eyes with two quality allowance wins at Saratoga, earning Beyer Speed Figures of 105 and 107. In the Kelso, where Grade 1 winner Itsmyluckyday was a 3-5 favorite, River Rocks put away pace challengers Itsmyluckyday and Bradester, only to succumb to a stalking Vyjack by one length.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 River Rocks. Trainer John Terranova is 22-1-4-4 with a $0.23 ROI over the past two years going route to sprint on dirt at NYRA tracks. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“He was pressured pretty much the whole way, had to do all the dirty work between Bradester and Itsmyluckyday, and there was Vyjack sitting there with a fresh challenge,” said trainer John Terranova. “He never seemed to give up.”
Terranova said River Rocks came out of the Kelso “really well” and has had a couple of easy breezes in between. The turnback to seven furlongs and being drawn in post 6 in the seven-horse field should be beneficial to River Rocks.
Topping the competition are Salutos Amigos, second to River Rocks in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race at Saratoga on Aug. 31; Romansh, third in the Metropolitan Handicap when he last raced around one turn; and Confrontation, looking to rebound off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Romansh. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 25-8-6-3 with a $3.66 ROI over the past two years going route to sprint on dirt at NYRA tracks. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Key contenders
River Rocks (Last 3 Beyers: 101-107-105)
◗ He had a three-race winning streak snapped when beaten a length by Vyjack in the Kelso.
◗ He shortens up to seven furlongs, the distance of a 5 3/4-length second-level allowance win over a muddy Saratoga track in July.
◗ He can be effective from on or just off the pace.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last four years, trainer Terranova is 0 for 17 in graded stakes on the NYRA circuit, with three in-the-money finishes. His last graded stakes win on the circuit was with Franny Freud in the Grade 1 Prioress on July 4, 2010.
Salutos Amigos (Last 3 Beyers: 101-103-98)
◗ As of Thursday, the plan was to run here and not in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, for which he was pre-entered.
“In New York, I see a two-horse race,” trainer and part-owner David Jacobson said. “In California, I see a 14-horse race.”
◗ After finishing second to River Rocks going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, Salutos Amigos ran fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 1 Vosburgh going six furlongs.
“I like seven-eighths against River Rocks,” Jacobson said.
Romansh (Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-91)
◗ His best race this year might have been his third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn race.
◗ He cuts back to seven-eighths after dismal races at 1 1/8 miles in the Whitney and Woodward.
“Just cutting him back, trying something different with him,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Hopefully, he can make a turnaround.”
Confrontation (Last 3 Beyers: 73-98-96)
◗ After two impressive allowance wins, he finished last in the Grade 1 Forego. His connections feel that he may have been timid trying to split horses.
◗ He breaks from the rail, which was his post under Rajiv Maragh in two optional-claiming victories before the Forego.
“Rajiv said the rail is his security blanket,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. “He loves it there.”
◗ With Maragh sidelined due to a broken arm, Joe Bravo picks up the mount.