# Bold Ruler Stakes

The Bold Ruler Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in late October Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of US$175,000.

## History

The race is named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee and 1957 US Horse of the Year, Bold Ruler.
The event was inaugurated on 22 December 1976 at Aqueduct Racetrack at a distance of six furlongs and was won by Chief Tamanaco who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. and trained by the young trainer James Iselin, son of Philip H. Iselin who at the time was Chairman of Monmouth Park Racetrack in a time of 1:094⁄5.
In 1978 the event was scheduled to be run in early spring in April and it was raced at that time of the year until 2002. That year the event was moved to Belmont Park and held in May and was duly held then until 2009. In 2009 the event was moved to the Aqueduct Fall Meeting and has been held in late October or early November and at times returning to be scheduled at Belmont Park.
In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1985 for five runnings before being downgraded back to Grade III in 1990.
In the 1998 running, Kelly Kip, ridden by Jean-Luc Samyn, set an Aqueduct rack record of 1:07.61 for the six furlongs distance. Samyn and Kelly Kip returned the following year to break that record, running the six furlongs in 1:07.54.
In 2009 the Bold Ruler was increased in distance to 7 furlongs.
In 2019 Maximum Security set a new stakes record for the seven furlong distance en route to being crowned the US Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.
In 2022 the conditions of the event were changed to a stakes race with allowances. Also the event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park and run at a shorter distance of six furlongs.

## Records

Speed record:
* 7 furlongs: 1:20.76 – Maximum Security (2019)
* 6 furlongs: 1:07.54 – Kelly Kip (1999)
Margins:
* 9+3⁄4 lengths – No Dozing (2018)
Most wins:
* 2 – Dave's Friend (1980, 1981)
* 2 – Kelly Kip (1998, 1999)
* 2 – Runninsonofagun (2022, 2024)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1976, 1985, 1987)
* 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1977, 1998, 1999)
* 3 – John R. Velazquez (1994, 2001, 2010)
* 3 – Jose Lezcano (2009, 2011, 2013)
* 3 – Joel Rosario (2017, 2020, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – H. Allen Jerkens (1995, 1998, 1999, 2009)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Hobeau Farm (1995, 1998, 1999)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| At Aqueduct – Bold Ruler Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | †Runninsonofagun | 5 | Joel Rosario | John T. Toscano Jr. | Karen A. Zimmerman | 6 furlongs | 1:09.42 | $175,000 | III |
| 2023 | Durante | 4 | Manuel Franco | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & JKX Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:09.78 | $200,000 | III |
| 2022 | Runninsonofagun | 3 | Kendrick Carmouche | John T. Toscano Jr. | The Estate of Scott Zimmerman | 6 furlongs | 1:10.07 | $200,000 | III |
| At Belmont Park – Bold Ruler Handicap |||||||||||
| 2021 | Wondrwherecraigis | 4 | Luis Saez | Brittany T. Russell | Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables & Michael Caruso | 7 furlongs | 1:23.31 | $200,000 | III |
| 2020 | Majestic Dunhill | 5 | Joel Rosario | George Weaver | R. A. Hill Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.48 | $93,000 | III |
| 2019 | Maximum Security | 4 | Luis Saez | Jason Servis | Gary & Mary West | 7 furlongs | 1:20.76 | $200,600 | III |
| At Aqueduct |||||||||||
| 2018 | No Dozing | 4 | Daniel Centeno | Arnaud Delacour | Lael Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:23.81 | $200,000 | III |
| At Belmont Park |||||||||||
| 2017 | Tom's Ready | 4 | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | G M B Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.06 | $200,000 | III |
| 2016 | Stallwalkin' Dude | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners | 7 furlongs | 1:21.66 | $200,000 | III |
| 2015 | Matrooh | 5 | Abel Castellano Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Shadwell Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.24 | $196,000 | III |
| 2014 | Salutos Amigos | 4 | Cornelio Velasquez | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:21.87 | $200,000 | III |
| 2013 | Clearly Now | 3 | Jose Lezcano | Brian A. Lynch | Up Hill Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:21.52 | $200,000 | III |
| 2012 | Buffum | 4 | Eddie Castro | Thomas Albertrani | Godolphin Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.68 | $150,000 | III |
| At Aqueduct |||||||||||
| 2011 | Calibrachoa | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Todd A. Pletcher | Mike Repole | 7 furlongs | 1:21.32 | $100,000 | III |
| At Belmont Park |||||||||||
| 2010 | Bribon (FR) | 7 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Derrick Smith | 7 furlongs | 1:22.36 | $100,000 | III |
| At Aqueduct |||||||||||
| 2009 | Le Grand Cru | 4 | Jose Lezcano | H. Allen Jerkens | Judson Streicher | 7 furlongs | 1:22.19 | $147,000 | III |
| At Belmont Park |||||||||||
| 2008 | Lucky Island (ARG) | 4 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:09.14 | $109,100 | III |
| 2007 | Songster | 4 | Edgar S. Prado | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $105,400 | III |
| 2006 | Tiger | 5 | Eibar Coa | James A. Jerkens | Susan & John Moore | 6 furlongs | 1:08.49 | $104,700 | III |
| 2005 | Uncle Camie | 5 | Richard Migliore | Michael E. Hushion | Carmine Telesca and John & Marilyn Guerrera | 6 furlongs | 1:08.67 | $104,600 | III |
| 2004 | Canadian Frontier | 5 | Javier Castellano | Stanley M. Hough | Joyce Robsham | 6 furlongs | 1:08.97 | $107,700 | III |
| 2003 | Shake You Down | 5 | Michael J. Luzzi | Scott A. Lake | Robert L. Cole Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:08.47 | $108,400 | III |
| 2002 | Left Bank | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor | 6 furlongs | 1:09.30 | $102,900 | III |
| At Aqueduct |||||||||||
| 2001 | Say Florida Sandy | 7 | Joe Bravo | Juan Serey | John Rotella | 6 furlongs | 1:08.67 | $109,200 | III |
| 2000 | Brutally Frank | 6 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Mitchell E. Friedman | Sunny Meadow Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:08.64 | $109,800 | III |
| 1999 | Kelly Kip | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:07.54 | $107,400 | III |
| 1998 | Kelly Kip | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:07.61 | $110,200 | III |
| 1997 | Punch Line | 7 | Robbie Davis | William H. Turner Jr. | Althea Richards | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $108,300 | III |
| 1996 | Lite the Fuse | 5 | Julie Krone | Richard E. Dutrow Sr. | Richard E. Dutrow Sr. | 6 furlongs | 1:09.51 | $107,500 | III |
| 1995 | Rizzi | 4 | Dale V. Beckner | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:08.91 | $107,600 | III |
| 1994 | § Chief Desire | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Michael E. Hushion | Charles G. Hagedorn | 6 furlongs | 1:08.76 | $110,500 | III |
| Bold Ruler Stakes |||||||||||
| 1993 | Slerp | 4 | Jose A. Santos | Robert B. Hess Jr. | Allan L. Richie | 6 furlongs | 1:09.17 | $117,000 | III |
| 1992 | Jolies Appeal | 4 | Herb McCauley | Gasper S. Moschera | John Thor | 6 furlongs | 1:09.29 | $112,600 | III |
| 1991 | Rousing Past | 4 | Nick Santagata | Carlos F. Martin | Tri Noble Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $112,000 | III |
| 1990 | Mr. Nickerson | 4 | Chris Antley | Mark J. Reid | Robert H. A. Nixon | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $110,400 | III |
| 1989 | Pok Ta Pok | 4 | Richard Migliore | William H. Turner Jr. | Barbara Turner | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $112,600 | II |
| 1988 | King's Swan | 8 | Chris Antley | Richard E. Dutrow Sr. | Alvin Akman | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $127,800 | II |
| 1987 | Pine Tree Lane | 5 | Angel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Leonard D. Mathis | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $172,800 | II |
| 1986 | Phone Trick | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | Richard E. Mandella | Howell Wynne | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $117,800 | II |
| 1985 | Rocky Marriage | 5 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Robert J. Frankel | Sidney L. Port | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $85,650 | II |
| 1984 | Top Avenger | 6 | Antonio Graell | Jack D. Ludwig | John A. Franks | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $92,250 | III |
| 1983 | Maudlin | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:11.60 | $82,500 | III |
| 1982 | Always Run Lucky | 4 | Jimmy J. Miranda | John P. Campo | Rockwood Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $81,000 | III |
| 1981 | Dave's Friend | 6 | Anthony S. Black | Robert L. Beall | John A. Franks | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $80,850 | |
| 1980 | Dave's Friend | 5 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Robert L. Beall | Robert L. Beall | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $81,150 | |
| 1979 | Star de Naskra | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Richard D. Ferris | Carlyle J. Lancaster | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $80,700 | |
| Bold Ruler Handicap |||||||||||
| 1978 | Half High | 5 | Angel Santiago | Edward J. Coletti Sr. | Leon J. Hekimian | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $42,775 | |
| 1977 | Jaipur's Gem | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Jacqueline Crotty | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $36,750 | |
| 1976 | Chief Tamanaco | 3 | Angel Cordero Jr. | James Iselin | Great Wolf Hill Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $36,250 | |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In 2024, My Buddy B won the race but was disqualified to second after stewards ruled she had bumped and interfered with Runninsonofagun in the stretch run.