Majestic Dunhill in a Familiar Spot in Bold Ruler

Seven furlongs can be a tricky distance for some horses. It can be a shade too long for certain sprinters and a bit short for routers.

For Majestic Dunhill, it is a trip he likes and knows well. The 5-year-old gelding's past 11 starts have been at seven furlongs, either on dirt or turf.

"That's not easy to do," trainer George Weaver said about the uninterrupted string. "But I like him at seven furlongs. I kinda forced him into that because I think a mile is a little too far for him."

That first foray at seven furlongs was successful as Majestic Dunhill won the 2018 City of Laurel Stakes, but since then he has been winless over the course of 10 races and two years, a streak Weaver would love to snap Oct. 31 when the son of Majesticperfection makes a 12th consecutive seven-furlong start in the $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park.

"He has a world of talent but has been unlucky to win a big race yet," Weaver said. "I'm looking forward to the Bold Ruler. He's coming into it the right way."

That's easy to say, based on the company Majestic Dunhill has been keeping in the morning. He often works alongside grade 1-winning stablemate Vekoma , one of the favorites in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

"He's been a workmate of Vekoma on many occasions, and he's held his own with him," Weaver said. "It works out well for both of them."

Most recently, Majestic Dunhill worked four furlongs in :49.83 Oct. 25 on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course.

During his losing streak, Majestic Dunhill finished second three times, including the 2019 General George Stakes (G3), and third twice for owner R. A. Hill Stable. He prepped for Saturday's race with a second-place finish, a neck behind the winner, in a Sept. 25 allowance optional claiming race that came on the heels of a forgettable ninth in the Forego Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing (G1), which was contested in a monsoon at Saratoga.

"The Forego was an interesting scenario. Not only was it muddy, but they were trying to figure out when to send out the horses and they wound up sending them out in a driving rainstorm," Weaver said. "It was more than a muddy track working against him. It was a crazy situation with all the rain falling, and he wound up not trying very hard. He was like, 'This is not for me.'"

The field of six includes Silvino Ramirez's Share the Ride, a Candy Ride  gelding who was third in the Vosburgh Stakes (G2) for trainer Antonio Arriaga, and Phat Man, a Munnings  gelding who has not raced since finishing second in the Feb. 29 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2). Phat Man, the 121-pound highweight, is owned by Marianne Stribling, Two Rivers Racing Stable, and trainer Kent Sweezey.

Share the Ride appears in a position to control the pace under Manny Franco.

Entries: Bold Ruler H. (G3)

Belmont Park, Saturday, October 31, 2020, Race 9

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:57 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mihos (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	James A. Jerkens	4/1
2	2Share the Ride (KY)	Manuel Franco	120	Antonio Arriaga	5/2
3	3Wendell Fong (KY)	Luis Saez	116	Natalia Lynch	10/1
4	4Arch Cat (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	117	Daniel Velazquez	10/1
5	5Majestic Dunhill (KY)	Joel Rosario	117	George Weaver	5/2
6	6Phat Man (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	J. Kent Sweezey	2/1