In our third ever stakes win, Paradise Valley came home with our first ever win in a graded stakes race with a win in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes on Sunday at Belmont. It also marked the first graded stakes win for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci and the first stakes win in New York for jockey Samuel Marin.
Here’s the story from NYRA.com and Christian Abdo
Paradise Valley held off Commuted’s late run to secure trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci his first graded win in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont Park.
Paradise Valley, owned by Kantarmaci, Zilla Racing Stables, Steven Forst, America’s Pastime Stables, Five Horsemen Stables and Rounds Racing, was haltered for $55,000 out of a win going seven furlongs in May at Belmont at the Big A. The 6-year-old Lookin at Lucky gelding was making his third career stakes attempt following a claiming victory sprinting six furlongs under returning rider Samuel Marin on October 10 here.
Kantarmaci previously assisted his father Tuncay, a successful trainer in Turkey, and his brother Mertkan in the United States, and had previously garnered graded stakes success while working with them.
“I’ve won graded races before with my dad and with my brother, but this is good – so emotional,” Kantarmaci said.
Paradise Valley broke alertly from post 2 and settled into a ground-saving fifth position as stablemate Stickupwithoutagun showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds over the fast dirt.
“I was very comfortable,” Marin said. “I knew there was some speed. My horse is pretty fast, too, but he doesn’t have to have it [the lead]. There was speed enough for me not to chase them, and it worked out perfect.”
The Flavien Prat-piloted Commuted lacked early speed and trailed the tightly packed field heading into the turn. Buccherino and Subrogate pressured Stickupwithoutagun through the half-mile in 45.41, and Marin tipped Paradise Valley out for his run once they straightened for home.
“He’s the type of horse, you can’t give up on him or he’ll feel it and won’t try,” said Marin. “Last time I rode him, he won, and I noticed it there. Coming back in this race, I was prepared to ride him like I rode him last time.”
Inside the eighth pole, Paradise Valley passed Subrogate and Buccherino, but Commuted was rapidly gaining ground from the back. The favored Commuted drew alongside the 13-1 Paradise Valley, but the gray kept his head in front in a final time of 1:09.16.
It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Buccherino in third, with Subrogate completing the superfecta. Stickupwithoutagun and Contrary Thinking rounding out the order of finish.
“Samuel won last time with him, and he knows the horse. He gave everything for us today, I’m so happy,” said Kantarmaci, who supplemented Paradise Valley to the field. “He was doing so good. I thought maybe I would take my chance because he had nowhere else to run. He was getting better and better, it was a good distance for him, so I spoke with my partners, and they were good.”
The Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power on December 6 here could be a potential next spot for Paradise Valley.
“We’ll see how he comes out of this race and go from there. I’ve not circled anything so far,” Kantarmaci said.
Prat said the Linda Rice-trained Commuted rallied well from last early, but was held off by a game Paradise Valley.
“I thought I had a good trip. I thought we were going to go by but couldn’t do it,” said Prat.
Paradise Valley banked $110,000 in victory while improving his record to 34-10-9-5 and returning $29.64 for a $2 win bet. Bred in Kentucky by EICO Ventures, Paradise Valley is out of the stakes-winning Red Giant mare Puddifoot and his second dam is Grade 3 winner Theresa’s Tizzy.
Live racing resumes Thursday with an eight-race card at Belmont Park. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
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