Clearly Now clearly best in Bold Ruler

Three-year-olds ran one-two in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000

Bold

Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park, with Clearly Now getting the jump on Forty

Tales at the top of the stretch and leading that rival by 1 1/2 lengths across

the wire with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

The 7-2 third choice in a field of six, Clearly Now returned $9.80 to win

after completing seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:21 2/5.

Well positioned to pounce as 6-5 favorite Strapping Groom led uncontested

through splits of :22 4/5 and :45 2/5, Clearly Now and the rest appeared to have

their work cut out as the speedster turned for home with a 2 1/2-length lead and

seemingly plenty left. When Clearly Now bid for the lead at the top of the

stretch, however, Strapping Groom readily folded and it was the younger horse

who opened up a 1 1/2-length margin he would not relinquish.

Forty Tales was along for second, while longshot Saturday's Charm edged

Strapping Groom by a neck for third 4 3/4 lengths farther back. Big Screen and

Politicallycorrect completed the order of finish.

Owned by Up Hill Stable and trained by Brian Lynch, Clearly Now started his

career in Canada, where he won his first two starts and then finished third in

the $150,000 Display over 1 1/16 miles to conclude his juvenile season.

This year Clearly Now has won or placed in all seven appearances. Preceding

this win was a Grade 3 score in the Swale at Gulfstream, close second-place

finishes in the Bay Shore at Aqueduct, Charlie Barley at Woodbine, and Gallant

Bob at Parx, and thirds in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream and Woody Stephens at

Belmont. His record now stands at 10-4-3-3, $508,236.

Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm, Clearly Now was a $30,000 Keeneland

September yearling. Produced by the multiple stakes-placed Bend, a daughter of

Arch, Clearly Now hails from the family of multiple Grade 2 queen Wend.

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