Indulgent, Highway Star rematch in Saturday’s G2 Ruffian

by Brian Bohl

Fresh off a career-high speed figure rating in her graded stakes debut, Godolphin Racing’s Indulgent will look to notch her first stakes win as part of a field of five fillies and mares 4-years-old and up in the Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Indulgent, a 4-year-old Bernardini filly, is 3-2-0 in six career starts and has finished on the board in her last five starts since her debut. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee will look to build on a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in which she finished just a half-length behind Highway Star – a fellow entrant in the Ruffian – while registering a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. She will depart post 4 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard carrying 117 pounds, while the rest of the field will carry 123 pounds.  

“She ran really well last time and I think they’ll be a good shift in weights in our favor over Highway Star,” McLaughlin said. “Last time, she only gave us one pound. This time she has to give us six pounds. She’s doing great and trains aggressively, so we don’t work her that often. She worked great last week.”

Indulgent, who has never raced at longer than seven furlongs, will now challenge for supremacy in the Ruffian in a one-turn mile on the main track. McLaughlin said the half-sister of Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney winner Frosted should be able to handle the increased distance. 

“We feel like she always wanted the mile and it’s a good progression,” McLaughlin said. “The distance shouldn’t be a problem. She’s used to this track and she trains here every day. We’re excited about the race. As far as speed, she’ll probably be more forwardly placed going further. She’s always come from off of it going short, but going a mile, she might be closer to the lead.”

Highway Star, a two-time graded stakes winner, will look for her third win in four starts for trainer Rodrigo Ubillo. The 4-year-old earned a career-best 92 Beyer in the Distaff, rallying from fourth. Owned by Chester and Mary Broman, Highway Star has six career wins in nine starts, including a victory in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap on December 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Highway Star, 3-for-3 at one mile on the dirt, has earned nearly half a million dollars in her career and will be running on Big Sandy for the first time since winning an optional claimer on September 28. Angel Arroyo, who has won three of his four mounts aboard Highway Star, has the return call from post 3.

High Ridge Road, the winner of the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie on February 18 at Laurel Park, has four wins and a runner-up finish in five starts at a mile. Trained by Linda Rice, the 5-year-old daughter of Quality Road has finished on the board in 10 of her 12 career starts.

Jose Ortiz has the mount and will depart from the inside post

Bar of Gold will be looking for her first win of 2017, drawing the outside post. Trained by John Kimmel, the 5-year-old has not won a graded stakes start but has three second-place and a trio of third-place finishes on her resume. Also owned by the Bromans, the New York bred has faced top-level competition before, coming in second in the 2015 Grade 1 Test, Grade 2 Prioress and Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run.

A veteran closer, Bar of Gold won her last start at Belmont, stalking the pacesetters before cruising to an 18-length dominating win in the Empire Distaff. Joel Rosario will be in the irons.

Completing the field will be Verve’s Tale for trainer Barclay Tagg. The 4-year-old will be cutting back in distance after a second-place effort in the Grade 3 Top Flight on April 2. Verve’s Tale, who closed her 2016 campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Comely, will depart post 2 in tandem with jockey Paco Lopez.