Plainsman Returns to New York for Bold Ruler

Shortleaf Stable's two-time graded stakes winner Plainsman  will make the trek back to the Empire State to take on a field of eight Oct. 31 in the $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

Slated as Race 7 on Sunday's nine-race card with a 3:49 p.m. ET post time, the Bold Ruler for 3-year-olds and up headlines the day, which includes two divisions of the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares. 

Due to significant rainfall from a coastal storm that impacted Long Island Oct. 26-27, a trio of turf stakes initially slated for Sunday—the $150,000 Zagora Stakes, the $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes, and the $100,000 Awad Stakes—have been rescheduled for the following weekend. 

Plainsman, trained by Brad Cox, captured the 2018 Discovery Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack during his sophomore campaign, turning back eventual graded stakes winner Title Ready  and that year's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) runner-up Gronkowski . The 6-year-old Flatter   bay arrives at the Bold Ruler off a sharp one-length triumph in the Oct. 2 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, where he recorded a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure. 

Sporting an accomplished 8-6-3 record from 25 starts with a field-best bankroll of $729,207, Plainsman has won four of his last five starts, all over different ovals. Following an allowance optional claiming score April 15 at Oaklawn Park, he upped his game with victories in the June 4 Jim Rasmussen Stakes at Prairie Meadows and the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes nearly five weeks later at Indiana Grand. 

Plainsman also won an allowance race at Belmont in September of 2018.

"He's been doing great after the Ack Ack. He seems to like the track up at Belmont, so it made sense to ship him up for this spot that's a little easier," Cox said. "We're taking things one race at a time, but he's been in great form this year and has always proven to be versatile."

Carrying 123 pounds, the top weight in the field, Plainsman will break from post 3 under Joel Rosario.

Trainer Brittany Russell will saddle graded stakes-placed Wondrwherecraigis , who captured the restricted Tale of the Cat in August at Saratoga Race Course two starts back. 

Owned by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables, and Michael Caruso, Wondrwherecraigis crossed the wire first last out in the Sept. 18 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) at Pimlico Race Course, but was disqualified to second for drifting out into Jalen Journey  at the sixteenth pole. 

In addition to his Saratoga stakes victory, Wondrwherecraigis was a two-time allowance optional claiming winner this year at Pimlico. 

"He's had a good year, especially winning at Saratoga," Russell said. "Many of us could argue that he deserved to stay up in his last race. It was a bummer because the horse deserved a graded stakes win. Hopefully, this time around, he can show that he belongs in a graded stakes."

Luis Saez, who piloted the 4-year-old Munnings   gelding to victory in the Tale of the Cat, will be back aboard from post 7 as part of a 120-pound assignment.

Gold Square's Wendell Fong  (118 pounds) arrives off a nearly eight-month respite while making his debut for trainer Chad Summers. The 5-year-old son of Flat Out   was second in the March 6 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) last out at Aqueduct where he made up considerable ground in the stretch to finish 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Chateau . Wendell Fong was victorious in his 2021 commencement, capturing the Jan. 16 Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park. Jose Lezcano has the call from post 5. 

Red Oak Stable homebred Bal Harbour  (118 pounds) will attempt to overcome a 17-race losing streak for trainer Gregg Sacco. Although winless since capturing the Gio Ponti Stakes in November 2018 at Aqueduct, Bal Harbour has consistently made good showings at a high level the past few years, adding nine graded stakes-placings since his last coup. Manny Franco will ride from post 2. 

Completing the field are Lil Commissioner , Drafted , Continuation , and Amatteroftime . 

Entries: Bold Ruler H. (G3)

Belmont Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, Race 7

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lil Commissioner (FL)	Kendrick Carmouche	117	Rob Atras	6/1
2	2Bal Harbour (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Gregory D. Sacco	12/1
3	3Plainsman (KY)	Joel Rosario	123	Brad H. Cox	5/2
4	4Drafted (FL)	Dylan Davis	116	David P. Duggan	15/1
5	5Wendell Fong (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Chad Summers	9/2
6	6Continuation (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	116	Dane Kobiskie	10/1
7	7Wondrwherecraigis (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Brittany T. Russell	8/5
8	8Amatteroftime (NJ)	Paco Lopez	116	Silvino Ramirez	20/1