Boldor Takes King Cotton

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Ed and Susie Orr’s Boldor is now 2-for-2 on the year after securing his second straight stakes victory in Saturday’s $150,000 King Cotton Stakes.

He was coming off a victory in the Sam’s Town Stakes at Delta Downs January 4.

Breaking from post 5 of six under jockey David Cabrera, Boldor settled into fourth place early. Mr. Jagermeister grabbed the early lead through fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 3/5 for the first 1/2 mile while being pressed the whole way by Seven Nation Army.

The winner came four-wide into the stretch and kicked in late to wear down his rivals for the 1-length victory in 1:09 4/5 for 6 furlongs over a sloppy track.

Seven Nation Army finished a neck in front of Mr. Jagermeister for second.

“I thought I was going to be a little bit more off of it,” Cabrera said. “He broke really sharp. I just let him get comfortable. Pick a spot. He responded to me really good down the lane. I’m pretty happy that Steve gave me the opportunity, that’s for sure.”

Grade 2 winner Flagstaff, the even-money favorite, finished fourth. He was followed by Strike Power and Mucho.

“I just couldn’t get him going,” jockey Florent Geroux said of Flagstaff. “He was just out-paced. I don’t know if he didn’t like the track. I just couldn’t get him going. He was lost and I was riding really hard. Made a nice finish at the end, but just had too much to do.”

Bolder, a 5-year-old Munnings gelding, improved his record to 5-2-1 in 14 starts and has now earned $335,197. He returned $21.60, $6.80 and $4 at odds of 9/1.