Aqueduct: Bishops Bay, Cugino, Damon's Mound win Sunday stakes

Damon's Mound rallied from just off the pace to overhaul pacesetting Buccherino in deep stretch, earning a neck victory Sunday in the Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.

Junior Alvarado rode the 5-year-old Girvin for trainer Bill Mott in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on the main track.

Buccherino (5-2), who entered off a pair of stakes victories at Parx, broke sharply under Jose Lezcano and carved out quick fractions of 22.32 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.38 for the half. Damon's Mound (7-2) tracked along behind Bouncer, who pressed the pacesetter through the early going.

Approaching the far turn, Alvarado tipped Damon's Mound to the outside and began to gain ground. Through five furlongs in 57.25 seconds, Damon's Mound ranged up alongside the tiring Bouncer and set his sights on the leader.

Buccherino dug in gamely on the front end, but Damon's Mound wore him down in the final furlong to prevail by a neck in a final time of 1:09.67.

Full Moon Madness (5-2), ridden by Kendrick Carmouche for trainer Michelle Nevin, closed steadily to secure third. Subrogate finished fourth.

Damon's Mound paid $9.00, $3.54 and $2.62. Buccherino returned $3.12 and $2.50. Full Moon Madness paid $2.72 to show.

Owned by Cliff Love and bred in Florida, Damon's Mound improved his record to 16: 6-2-2. He had been away from the races since finishing fourth in the Parx Sprint on Sept. 20.

Cugino squeezes out victory in Red Smith

Cugino tracked the pace under Flavien Prat and surged past Common Defense in the final strides, earning a head victory Sunday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Red Smith Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.

The 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and older saw Common Defense open up with measured early fractions through a quarter-mile in 24.31 seconds and a half in 50.90.

Cugino (1-1), trained by Shug McGaughey for West Point Thoroughbreds, stalked the leader in second down the backstretch. Common Defense (9-2) continued to hold on to the lead heading into the far turn, posting a mile in 1:41.64.

Common Defense, ridden by Christopher Elliott for trainer Kenny McPeek, maintained his advantage through 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.26. Prat steered Cugino to the outside in the homestretch, and the 4-year-old Twirling Candy colt wore down the leader in the final yards.

The final time was 2:17.13 on the firm turf course. Cugino returned $4.36, $2.44 and $2.10 across the board. Common Defense paid $3.72 and $2.72. Desvio (10-1), with Manuel Franco aboard for trainer Madison Meyers, rallied to finish third and returned $4.34 to show.

Bred in Kentucky by Gage Hill Stables, Cugino is out of the Kitten's Joy mare Adorable Miss. The victory improved his record to 13: 6-4-0.

Bishops Bay earns Cigar mile birth with Forty Niner win

Bishops Bay stalked the pace and surged to the lead in upper stretch, drawing away to win the Grade 3, $175,000 Forty Niner Stakes Sunday at Belmont at the Big A.

Favored at 1-2 in the field of five after the scratch of Coastal Mission, Bishops Bay earned his fifth victory in 2025 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Flavien Prat. The 5-year-old Uncle Mo stopped the clock at 1:35.31 for the mile on the fast main track.

Light the Way broke alertly under Kendrick Carmouche and carved out opening fractions of 23.56 and 46.57 seconds. Bishops Bay tracked in second through the opening half-mile before ranging up to challenge on the turn.

After three-quarters went in 1:10.75, Bishops Bay seized command at the top of the lane and powered clear through the final furlong. Nelson Avenue, ridden by Joel Rosario, rallied from the back of the pack to finish second at 7-1. Scotland, with Junior Alvarado in the irons, ended up third as the 2-1 second choice.

Bishops Bay paid $3.16, $2.10 and $2.10. Nelson Avenue returned $4.72 and $2.34. Scotland paid $2.10 to show.

Light the Way faded to fourth. Over and Ollie finished last.

The top-three finishers in the Forty Niner received a fees-waived berth into the Cigar Mile (G2) on Dec. 6.

"We'll have to go back to Brad and see what he thinks, but it's not out of the question," said Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Bishops Bay improved his record to 12: 8-3-0.