7/4/2015  Post Time 2:00PM
RACE 3 BEL   The BEL Sprint Championship (GIII)
$400.000    3yo&Up    7f    Dirt

Talk about finding that old magic…  This time last year, Rule The Roost was plugging away at the $12.500 claiming level, bringing home checks and getting his picture taken.  Then, Sanny Village plunked down the coin at CRC, taking the then 7yo gelding on a narrow miss effort .  Since that day, the elevator has been going up… WAY up.  A GI win earlier this spring, and now a two length victory in The BEL Sprint Championship (GIII), getting the seven furlongs in 1:21.29.  Tequila Ruler was second and Wild Glory rounded out the trifecta that paid a whopping $1,408.60.

The field of twelve were off with Investment Grade and De Opperesso Liber from the outside, Rule The Roost and Tequila Ruler back towards the middle of the track.  Wild Glory from the extreme outside then Above The Rim, Masterpiece Five and Trench Admiral from the rail, Zykov and Spotted Cat side by side, Caymanas Park and Welcome Change was slowest from the gate.

Down the backside and into the far turn, four and a half furlongs to run,  Investment Grade crossed over to the rail and had a half-length advantage on Wild Glory.  Another length to De Oppresso Liber, Above The Rim to his inside, then another length back to Rule The Roost, Trench Admiral on the rail and Masterpiece Five next to that one.  Tequila Ruler on the flank of that pair, Caymanas Park racing five wide, then a length back to Zykov, Welcome Change and Spotted Cat was at the rear of the pack, nine lengths covering the field.

Around the sweeping turn and into the lane, two furlongs to run and like clockwork, the field bunched up for the run to the wire.  Investment Grade in front by a neck, Wild Glory trying to find more, De Oppresso Liber trying to split that pair with Rule The Roost from the outside and Above The Rim from the inside.  A gap of two back to Trench Admiral, starting to press forward, Caymanas Park still widest of all, master Piece Five and Tequila Ruler between them.  Then another length back to Zykov, Spotted Car and Welcome Change, six lengths from front to back.

Inside the final furlong, Rule The Roost up in a flash to take command, Wild Glory trying to go with that one, Investment Grade now looking tired from the heavy lifting, De Oppresso Liber also looking a bit leg weary as a wall of horses were pushing forward.

Down to the wire, this was Rule The Roost ruling the field and he went under the wire in front by two widening lengths.  Tequila Ruler was second, a neck in front of Wild Glory, who just nosed out Trench Admiral for third.  Caymanas Park was fifth, Spotted Cat sixth, De Oppresso Liber tiring to seventh along with a tiring Investment Grade in eighth.  Zykov was ninth, Masterpiece Five DH’ed with Above The Rim in tenth and Welcome Change was last of twelve.

Rule The Roost is an 8yo gelded son of HRP-Kings Bishop – HRP-Pure Profit, and he was bred by Ken Allan in CA.  As mentioned, he was acquired by his current owner via claim for $12.500.  He now has fifteen wins from his forty-two lifetime starts and earnings of $877.220 and has three wins from four ’15 starts, along with a neck-beaten third.  Looks like the old boy has a few more pictures to take before he’s done!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast      Time: :22³  :45³  1:09¹  1:21¹
$1 Exacta: 4 – 5 Paid 78.60    $1 Trifecta: 4 – 5 – 12 Paid 1,408.60
Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III