Rudder's Men cruises to victory at Belmont Park - NYRA photo

Rudder’s Men made his career debut a winning one, registering an impressive front-running victory in a seven-furlong maiden special event for trainer Todd Pletcher during the Belmont at the Big A meet on Saturday, Oct. 20. Rudder’s Men became his freshman sire’s third winner from a limited first crop of just nine foals.

A homebred for St. Elias Stable, the same connections that campaigned Battalion Runner, Rudder’s Men took command along the inside early in the seven-furlong test. In hand throughout, he got an opening quarter-mile in :22.53 and a half-mile in :46.56. Patiently handled by Irad Ortiz Jr., Rudder’s Men came under a drive at the three-sixteenths pole, and he responded gamely, leading by as many as eight lengths in the stretch. He was geared down late and defeated runner-up Classic Legacy by 4 ¼ lengths in the end, stopping the timer in 1:25.64. Rudder’s Men is the first foal out of the Speightstown mare Unblemished, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Yaupon and multiple graded stakes-placed Sawyer’s Hill. In addition to Rudder’s Men, Battalion Runner has also sired Lightnin Runner, winner of the Rachel’s Turn S. at Charles Town.

Battalion Runner is a Grade 2-placed son of the legendary Unbridled’s Song out of the Tapit mare Tamboz, making him a half-brother to multiple graded stakes-placed Oceanwave. Battalion Runner was a $700,000 Keeneland September yearling who went on to finished second in the Wood Memorial S. (G2) and third in the Dwyer S. (G3). He won a maiden special weight by a dominating 8 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream Park in his second start at two and captured his 3-year-old bow and two-turn debut going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream.

(Note: race replay begins at 2:51 mark)