Damon’s Mound. (Joe Labozzetta)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cliff Love and Michele Love’s Damon’s Mound grinded away before edging clear of Buccherino to win Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, on Closing Day of the fall meet at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old Girvin bay secured his third career graded victory, following past 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 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.
Piloted by Junior Alvarado, Damon’s Mound exited the outermost post 8 alertly as Bouncer, who broke through the gate and was re-loaded, broke sharpest-of-all before being overtaken by Buccherino from the inside post as he set an opening quarter-mile of 22.32 seconds on the fast dirt.
Damon’s Mound stalked in third position outside of Bouncer as Buccherino led through the half-mile in 45.38. At the top of the lane, Full Moon Madness launched his bid outside of Damon’s Mound, but with four across the track, Buccherino was responding on the front end under Jose Lezcano.
“Sometimes in six-furlong races it’s better to just give them a good trip,” said Alvarado of his five-wide bid in the lane. “You might miss a bit of saving ground and when 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, that’s best. We stayed out there and when I felt it was time to go, I asked him, and he went on for me.”
Buccherino held a half-length advantage at the stretch call, putting away Bouncer, with Damon’s Mound emerging as the main threat. Buccherino remained game on the lead, but Damon’s Mound chipped away with each stride and edged clear within the final 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 rounded out the order of finish.
Lezcano said the Alfredo Velazquez-trained Buccherino was game in defeat.
“He broke a little step behind, but he recovered very quick and gave me a very good race,” Lezcano said. “The winner came running but I can’t take anything away from horse – he fought right to the wire.”
Bred in Florida by his owner Cliff Love, Damon’s Mound is out of the stakes-placed Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll. He banked $96,250 in victory while improving his record to 17-6-2-2 and returning $9 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Thursday on 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. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The 27-day Aqueduct fall meet will run from November 6 through Wednesday, December 31.
