Bold Journey, a half brother to New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution, wins second straight stakes in Saturday’s Gravesend at Aqueduct. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.
Bold Journey loves Aqueduct. Like, really loves it.
The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has made 14 of his 20 starts at Aqueduct – not really his decision mind you – and six of his seven wins have come at the Big A. That’s entirely up to the chestnut colt, who collected his latest score in Saturday’s $145,500 Gravesend Stakes.
Bold Journey, a half-brother to New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution, added the Gravesend to his victory a month ago in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap. Bold Journey won the latter by a length over Durante with fellow New York-bred Rotknee third, and topped Rotknee by 4 1/2 lengths in the Gravesend with 4-5 favorite Durante third.
Jockey Eric Cancel, who returned from injury in late October, returned on Bold Journey for the first time since June when he won that one time away from Aqueduct going 6 furlongs on the turf.
“He broke very sharp. He usually sits back early in the race,” Cancel said. “I just let him get comfortable and once I asked him, he knew what he needed to do. He just engaged and from there on that was it.
“He was very explosive. As soon as I asked him, he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t take a while like he usually does. He just exploded and from there on I just had to hang on tight.”
Bold Journey, who won the 6-furlong Gravesend in 1:09.46 over the drying out track labeled muddy, improved to 7-for-20 and collected $82,500 to boost his bankroll to $568,743 for trainer Bill Mott and owners Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber.
The 3-1 third choice in the field of five, Bold Journey raced fourth early as 5-2 second choice Rotknee blazed through the opening quarter mile in :21.94. Durante and Stage Left took up the chase up the backstretch, with Bold Journey 8 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
Bold Journey inched within 6 lengths around the far turn and to the quarter-pole, with Rotknee still in front after a half in :44.95.
Cancel guided Bold Journey to the inside of Durante in the stretch, passed that foe outside the eighth pole and set his sights on the leader approaching the sixteenth pole. Bold Journey accelerated from there and widened his advantage with every stride to the wire. Rotknee held second for the New York-bred exacta, a nose in front of Durante, who has a head clear of Stage Left. Greeley and Ben completed the field.
“He broke a step behind and broke out,” said Jose Lezcano, who rode Rotknee. “After that, I sent a little bit and he jumped in the bridle and went on. That’s the way he wants to run. The winner can run – can’t take nothing away from him. My horse gave me what he’s got. He ran his best.”
Bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Bold Journey is one of three winners out of the winning Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. Named New York-bred broodmare of the year in 2021, Polly Freeze produced the Kentucky-bred Wicked Strong mare Text Dont Call, won two of 16 starts and earned $42,109.
Americanrevolution, a son of Constitution and Polly Freeze’s second foal, earned New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old honors in 2021 after a 5-for-6 season highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap, Empire Classic Handicap and Albany Stakes. He recently retired to stand his first season in 2024 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.
Polly Freeze’s fourth foal, the 3-year-old Collected filly Paleta, sold for $60,000 as a broodmare prospect at this year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Polly Freeze is also the dam of a yearling filly by Frosted that sold for $150,000 at the Keeneland September sale and a weanling colt by Constitution born March 18.
A $75,000 RNA at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, Bold Journey later sold for $80,000 to McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent, at the 2021 OBS April sale. He won one of two starts at 2 before a second in the Gander Stakes in February 2022. Ninth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes that March, Bold Journey didn’t return to stakes company until this past April when fifth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct.
Bold Journey has won four of seven starts since the Carter, including three straight over the Aqueduct main track.
