Ruth Less Blue seeks third straight win in Bull Page
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Vandal Stakes winner Ruth Less Blue will put his two-race winning streak on the line when he faces seven other Ontario-sired 2-year-olds in Sunday’s $125,000 Bull Page Stakes over six furlongs on Polytrack.
Ruth Less Blue debuted with a runner-up effort behind Beliveau in the Clarendon Stakes here on Queen’s Plate Day, July 5. He took a field of Ontario-sired maidens gate to wire to win by 3 1/4 lengths in his next start Aug. 2 and most recently scored in the Vandal in gate-to-wire fashion Aug. 15 over Conquest Daddyo. That rival came back to win the Grade 2 Summer Stakes here Sept. 12 and will make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30.
Trainer Scott Fairlie, who is also a co-owner and co-breeder of Ruth Less Blue, said he’s been high on the son of Giant Gizmo from the beginning.
“He’s a horse that I’ve liked from the get-go, when he was a weanling and a yearling,” he said. “I wouldn’t have entered him in a stakes on Queen’s Plate Day if I didn’t think he was good enough to compete.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Ruth Less Blue (Last 3 Beyers: 70-71-69)
◗ He might have to deal with a little pace pressure from Heated Verdict early in the race, but there does not appear to be much other early speed in this field. Expect him to be forwardly placed from the outset.
Amis Gizmo (Beyer: 83)
◗ Amis Gizmo recorded the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure in this field in his career debut in the Simcoe Stakes on Sept. 2. He was squeezed back at the start but settled into stride off the pace and closed three wide to nail Conquest Twister in the final strides.
◗ He’s posted some good times in his works after the Simcoe and should be primed for another big effort.
Heated Verdict (Beyers: 70-60)
◗ He ships in for trainer George Weaver off his maiden win against New York-breds on the grass at Saratoga, where he got away with an easy lead. He won’t have that luxury in this spot but should still find a good early position to track the speed of Ruth Less Blue.
Get’erdonebud (Last 3 Beyers: 52-65-63)
◗ He’s already made four stakes starts but has placed just once. The addition of blinkers could get him a little more involved in the early stages of the race.