Stallwalkin' Dude gets first graded stakes win in G3 Bold Ruler

by Brian Bohl

Head of Plains Partners' Stallwalkin' Dude stalked the pace and took command coming out of the turn to win his first graded stakes race in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs on the Belmont Park main track.

Trained and co-owned by David Jacobson, Stallwalkin' Dude broke well from post 6 and sat off Green Gratto's early fractions of 22.70 seconds for a quarter-mile and 45.28 for a half. Irad Ortiz, Jr. piloted the 6-year-old bay gelding to the lead going four-wide entering the stretch and held off a challenging Threefiveindia by 1 1/2 lengths in hitting the wire in 1:21.66.

"That was a great race," Jacobson said. "It was exactly the way we planned it in the paddock and Irad just did a great job."

Off at 4-1, Stallwalkin' Dude returned $10.80 on a $2 win bet and cracked $1 million in total earnings in bringing his total to $1,088,352. He won his first stakes since the Tale of the Cat on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course and is 2-1-1 in his last four starts.

"I got a very good trip," Ortiz said. "We broke on top and I planned to hold him as long as we can taking him back going seven-eighths behind the speed, and that's what we did. When I asked him, he was there for me."

Stallwalkin' Dude won his first graded stakes in nine attempts, improving to 16-5-7 in 46 career starts overall. He finished as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Vosburgh last out on October 1 and the 2015 Grade 2 True North.

"I didn't realize it until I read it in the paper," Jacobson said. "He's won so many races for us and he's been competing against some of the really good horses, and he's a millionaire now. It's great."

Threefiveindia, trained by Chad Brown, finished in the money for a second straight start after coming in third in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob on September 24 at Parx Racing. His stablemate, Economic Model, finished.

Mylute, Green Gratto, Dannie's Deceiver, Ami's Flatter, Cadeyrn, Touchofstarquality, Face of Winner and Farhaan completed the order of finish.

Gentrify and Liberty Holiday were scratched.