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Nothing Indecisive About Categorical Maybe’s Bold Ruler Win

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The Bold Ruler (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
October 27, 2023

Back in August, Categorical Maybe struggled in the slop at SAR in the Jerkens Memorial, but could we blame that result only on the rain? He was on good form going into the race, and had a solid outing in an optional claimer at PRX. Returning to the graded level, the gelding could put any concern to bed in regards to that effort at SAR. After six furlongs, he would do exactly that, coming from the middle of the pack to get the win at odds of close to 12/1. His trainer is Asgar, and it’s his first win in the Bold Ruler. J L Ortiz was the winning rider, and for him it’s his second win. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:08.90, which can really only be equitably compared to last year’s time, and it was slightly faster. Let’s take a look at it now!

(1/4 Mile- :21.88)- Several horses break well, but no one is more ambitious at the start than Fit To Fight, and the Spb Racing is able to clear the field and move over to the rail quickly as he opens up a lead of a length and a half. Chai Of The Storm will hold the second spot for Wood Duck Stables, as he has a neck in front of Paradise Stable’s White Fury. Running between those two, and within a length, are Arindel’s Lennon and Martyparty’s Blamethespeedparty. Up next is our eventual winner, the Asgar- trained Categorical Maybe. He runs in the fourth lane for now, directly behind Chai Of The Storm. Papa Nature runs to his outside for Night Rider Stables. After a length, Street Edge (Fractious) and Shoulders (Wood Duck Stables), and at the back of the pack, it’s Tko (Axeman), Rush (D J C Racing Stables), and the post time favorite, as well as our pick, Penalty Shot (Maxmillion Farm). That’s a concern for Penalty Shot fans, because he is not known as a closer.

(1/2 Mile- :44.96, Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- For now, everything seems fine with Fit To Fight, as he continues to lead the way and is able to maintain his approximate length and a half advantage. Lennon has moved into second, passing Chai Of The Storm to the inside, and White Fury has also done the same to that rival while running closer to the rail. Blamethespeedparty holds steady in the fifth spot, while Categorical Maybe moves over a lane to prepare to make a pass of Chai Of The Storm before setting his sights on the bigger prize. Papa Nature dropped back to now run evenly with Street Edge and Shoulders, and Penalty Shot began to show interest on exit of the turn. Tko and Rush did not seem as eager, but still had time to change that.

(Finish- 1:08.90)- With a furlong to go, Lennon has taken over the lead, but the pack has really tightened up as Fit To Fight may have knocked himself out. Categorical Maybe was up to third and running well on the outside and Blamethespeedparty seemed to be a good position. On the rail, there was a large opening for Street Edge to try and take advantage of. Approaching the wire, Lennon was still looking good, and seemed as though he would hang on, but the persistence of Categorical Maybe would not be denied as he hits the wire together with Lennon. The photo would show that Categorical Maybe had completed the pass in time and gets the victory! Lennon is second, with Penalty Shot coming on only very late in the stretch to end up finishing third, ahead of Street Edge, Blamethespeedparty and Shoulders, who were all close by. The rest of the order will read: Tko, Papa Nature, Rush, White Fury, Chai Of The Storm, and Fit To Fight.

About The Winner- Categorical Maybe, trained by Asgar and ridden to victory by J L Ortiz, is a three year old gelding by Categorical, and is out of Dont Mind If I Twizt. He was bred as a third quarter two year old in Louisiana by Asgar, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 15 starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $302.240.

##   Horse Name Owner Name Jockey Odds   Fin Time SRF 
6
  Categorical Maybe Asgar Ortiz J L 11.80   1hd 1:08.90  
5
  Lennon Arindel Gomez J A 7.10   21/2 1:08.93  
8
  Penalty Shot Maxmillion Farm Carmouche K 3.05   31/4 1:09.03  
1
  Street Edge Fractious Alvarado J 8.65   4nk 1:09.13  
3
  Blamethespeedparty Martyparty Castellano J J 18.50   5no 1:09.20  
11
  Shoulders Wood Duck Stables Ortiz I Jr 18.05   61/2 1:09.21  
4
  Tko Axeman Castillo I 9.60   7nk 1:09.33  
12
  Papa Nature Night Rider Stables McCarthy T 21.20   8no 1:09.38  
7
  Rush D J C Racing Stables Martinez J R 9.35   9nk 1:09.40  
2
  White Fury Paradise Stable Cancel E 12.15   10hd 1:09.46  
9
  Chai On The Storm Wood Duck Stables Davis D 20.10   11no 1:09.49  
10
  Fit To Fight Spb Racing Richards G G 5.10   12 1:09.50  


Track: Fast
Time: :214  :444  :57   1:084

$2 Mutuel Prices:

6 – Categorical Maybe 25.60 11.50 5.90
5 – Lennon   8.80 4.90
8 – Penalty Shot     3.20


$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 76.00
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 8 Paid 262.40

Scratched: None

— NS

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Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES