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Bribon outclasses foes in Bold Ruler

Bribon will tackle the Cigar Mile for the third straight year (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com) The decision to bypass next week's Breeders' Cup with Derrick Smith's BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) began paying dividends on Saturday when the seven-year-old notched the first half of his two-race fall campaign in the $100,000 Bold Ruler H. (G3) at Belmont Park. After imposing his back class on seven rivals in the seven-furlong Bold Ruler, the gelding will now head to the November 27 Cigar Mile H. (G1) at Aqueduct, a race he has fallen short in for the past two seasons. Ridden by John Velazquez for the first time, Bribon hugged the rail from his inside post for the opening three furlongs but gradually moved outside entering the turn. He was relatively close to the leaders as Jack On the Rocks (Outflanker) set a modest pace of :23 and :46, but those splits did not help that longshot and he was swallowed up turning for home, first by 9-5 favorite Tahitian Warrior (Maria's Mon). That one had tracked in third through the opening half, but had little left to repel the late comers. Bribon, who bid in behind Jersey Town (Speightstown) turning for home, came on fastest of all through the stretch to overtake that rival and accelerated past the rest en route to a 1 3/4-length score as the 2-1 second choice. The final time over the fast track was 1:22 1/5. Jersey Town held on for second by a neck over Half Metal Jacket (Yes It's True), with Tahitian Warrior another neck behind in fourth. Wildcat Brief (Forest Wildcat), Temecula Creek (Gulch), Jack On the Rocks and Roaring Lion (Lion Hearted) completed the order of finish.

Bribon paid $6.90, $4.30 and $3.10, while the 9-1 Jersey Town returned $8.40 and $3.10. Half Metal Jacket returned $3.30. The exacta paid $78.50, the trifecta $246.50, and the 1-8-7-2 superfecta $651.

"I was a little worried initially because they didn't go very quick early," said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "He put himself into the race early, which I think made all the difference. Johnny was able to negotiate from the one hole into an outside trip. Going into the race, we planned to maneuver to the outside if it worked out well."

Imported to the United States from France following his two-year-old season, Bribon did not make an impact outside the allowance ranks until the Cigar Mile in November 2008, where he overcame a slow beginning to finish less than a length behind in third. Last season, the seven-year-old gelding won three straight during the summer including the Westchester S. (G3) and Metropolitan H. (G1), but saw his winning streak snapped when fifth in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1). He rebounded to just miss to eventual champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy in the Cigar Mile.

Privately purchased last winter and moved from the barn of Robert Ribaudo to Pletcher, Bribon debuted for his new connections in the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at Garrison Savannah in Barbados, where he finished second by a neck. He was a dull fifth when defending his title in the Westchester, but rebounded to take the True North H. (G2). Preceding this victory were a third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) and sixth in the Forego S. (G1). His line now reads 36-11-9-4, $1,125,013.

Bred in France by Darpat Sl, Bribon hails from the unraced Rowat Arazi (Arazi). This is the female family of English filly Triple Crown winner and champion Oh So Sharp (Ire) (Kris) as well as English and Italian highweight Shantou (Alleged).

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