Damon’s Hill. (Joe Labozetta)
NYRA News Agency
OZONE PARK, NY – Cliff Love and Michele Love’s Damon’s Hill pulled away before leaving Buccherino behind to win Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and older, on the final day of the fall meet in Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, 5-year-old Girvin Bay earned his third career win, following previous scores for previous trainer Michelle Lovell in the 2022 Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga Race Course and the 2023 Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing. Damon’s Mound entered the Bold Ruler from a fourth-place finish in the 6 1/2 furlong Parx Sprint on September 20, where returning rival Buccherino was victorious and Full Moon Madness finished in a dead heat for second place.
Piloted by Junior Alvarado, Damon’s Mound left the outside post 8 alert as Bouncer, breaking through the fence and being reloaded, broke the sharpest of them all before being overtaken by Buccherino from the inside post as he posted an opening quarter mile of 22.32 seconds on the fast dirt.
Damon’s Mound was in third place outside Bouncer as Buccherino led through the half mile in 45.38. At the top of the track, Full Moon Madness launched its bid outside Damon’s Mound, but with four across, Buccherino responded at the front under Jose Lezcano.
“Sometimes in six-furlong races it’s better to just give them a good trip,” Alvarado said of his five-wide bid in the lane. “You might miss a bit of space and if it’s two turns it’s crucial to save ground, but sprinting, as long as you put them in a good spot and have a good, clear run, is the best. We stayed out there and when I felt it was time to go, I asked him, and he went ahead for me.”
Buccherino had a half-length lead at the stretch call, eliminating Bouncer, with Damon’s Mound posing the biggest threat. Buccherino remained in the lead, but Damon’s Mound pulled away with every step, pulling away in the last sixteenth to a half-length victory in a final time of 1:09.67.
Full Moon Madness finished 2 1/2 lengths back in third, with Subrogate completing the superfecta. Nutella Fella, Bouncer, Hurricane Nelson and The Golden Gorilla completed the order of finish.
Lezcano said the Alfredo Velazquez-trained Buccherino had suffered a defeat.
“He fell a little behind, but he recovered very quickly and gave me a very good race,” Lezcano said. “The winner came running, but I can’t take anything away from the horse – he fought right down to the wire.”
Damon’s Mound, bred in Florida by his owner Cliff Love, is outside the stakes-placed Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll. He earned $96,250 in wins while improving his record to 17-6-2-2 and returning $9 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Thursday on the opening day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the rescheduled Listed $150,000 Tempted in Race 2 and the Listed $150,000 Chelsey Flower in Race 6. The first post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The 27-day Aqueduct autumn meeting runs from November 6 to Wednesday December 31.
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