No Dozing Dominant in Bold Ruler Handicap

Lael Stables' No Dozing notched his first graded stakes win with an emphatic 9 3/4-length score in the $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 43rd running of the Bold Ruler was originally slated for Oct. 27 at Belmont Park, but inclement weather canceled the card. Rescheduled as the first of 13 graded stakes for the 23-day Aqueduct fall meet, the Bold Ruler saw No Dozing stalk 2-1 favorite Coal Front's early fractions of :22.14 and :44.92 through a half-mile.

As they approached the turn, jockey Daniel Centeno, bidding for his first graded stakes win at a New York Racing Association track, urged No Dozing to take command from the outside. The 4-year-old Union Rags  gelding overtook Coal Front and gained separation in the stretch to complete the seven-furlong sprint in 1:23.81.

No Dozing won for the first time since he bested a field of optional-claiming allowance horses July 21 at Saratoga Race Course. The Bold Ruler was his second stakes win, adding to the 2017 Concern at Laurel Park for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

"I talked to Arnaud this morning. We thought the speed was inside of me, so our plan was to keep close and not be left back," said Centeno, who notched his sixth graded stakes win and first since 2016, when he won the Delaware Oaks (G3) with Dark Nile. "I had to use him a little in the beginning. We broke a little bit slow, but as soon as I got him going and put him in a good spot, he was comfortable all the way. When I went to the lead, he was gone. Turning for home I had plenty of horse."

Off as the 5-2 second choice, he improved his career earnings to $485,590.

Calumet Farm's True Timber, who returned to stakes company for the first time in six starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, rallied for second under jockey Joe Bravo and outkicked Delta Prince by 1 1/4 lengths.

Bon Raison, Coal Front, and Petrov completed the order of finish.

Video: Bold Ruler H. (G3)