Eskiminzin, surging to the front in mid-stretch, held safe the late rally of 7-5 favorite Be Vewy Vewy Quiet to take Sunday’s $100,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes by three-quarters of a length.
With Luis Contreras in the irons and with blinkers added to his equipment, Eskiminzin recorded his second career stakes win in the Bold Ruckus, a six-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds which attracted a field of seven. The stakes win was the first of record for trainer Carlos Grant.
Contreras, who was riding his third stakes winner of the meeting, had Eskiminzin in an ideal stalking position on the outside as Yallhaveaniceday and Mizuchi dueled through an opening quarter in :22.99. and a half-mile in :46.15.
“I got a perfect trip,” said Contreras. “He was very aggressive today with the blinkers on. Last time I rode him he was spooky between horses, so I asked Carlos to do a favour and add blinkers and (today) he wasn’t spooky at all.”
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet, a two-time stakes winner, rallied from fifth place around the turn and was rolling down the outside in the final furlong, but Eskiminzin had enough left and the favorite had to settle for second money.
Ellas My Love also was within striking distance at the furlong grounds but could not advance from third and finished two lengths behind the runner-up.
Where’s Anthony, far back early, rallied for fourth money, 1 ¼ lengths behind the show horse, with Mizuchi, Lauderdale and Yallhaveaniceday competing the order of finish.
The final time on a turf course rated “yielding” was 1:10.66.
“The grass was great,” said Contreras. “It wasn’t soft at all, I think the rain helped.”
The homebred Eskiminzin is a son of Cold Harbor, who campaigned for the Delmas family, and races under the nom du course Jecara Farms Corp.
Eskiminzin was sent postward at odds of 6-1 and returned $15, $4.80 and $3.50. He combined with Be Vewy Vewy Quiet ($2.60, $2.90) for a 5-6 exacta worth $42.70. A $1 trifecta of 6-5-3 (Ellas My Love, $3.20) paid $66.20 and a $1 superfecta of 5-6-3-7 (Where’s Anthony) returned $283.35.
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