Visionary Ruler by a nose in Friendly Lover Stakes

Visionary Ruler and Prendimi turned the $75,000 Friendly Lover Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday into their own private match race, and in the end, experience triumphed over youth as the 9-year-old Visionary Ruler prevailed by a nose over the 4-year-old Prendimi.

The top pair went at it from the start of the six-furlong sprint for New Jersey-breds while being tracked by four horses in the second flight. Visionary Ruler came away with the lead nearing the stretch and drew clear by about a length. But Prendimi pinned his ears and began to come back on, just missing at the wire.

Visionary Ruler was ridden by Isaac Castillo, is trained by Antonio Arriaga, and paid $43.40 in the eight-horse field after being timed in 1:09.86.

Arriaga and owner Silvino Ramirez claimed Visionary Ruler for $12,500 two starts ago on May 25. He had finished third for his new connections in a $16,000 optional-starter race a week ago.

“He has a lot of class, and I thought he still had a lot left; that’s why I claimed him,” Ramirez said. “The first race for us, he ran good, and I thought if he could improve off that, we’d have a chance. I didn’t expect this, but I was hoping for it.”

Visionary Ruler has always been a hard-knocking runner. The Friendly Lover is his 15th victory from 59 career starts, and the $45,000 check pushed his earnings to $422,000. The win was his first since he took a $6,250 claiming race at Gulfstream Park in January.

Cozy Lover, who raced four wide in the second flight early, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Prendimi. Saucy Don finished fourth, 4 1/4 lengths farther back. Chunnel, the 8-5 favorite, was fifth after racing far back early.