Benson Has High Hopes for Expected Ruler

First time starter Expected Ruler finds himself in stakes company when he takes on nine other 2-year-old colts and geldings in Sunday’s $60,000 Tyro Stakes going five furlongs on the turf.

“He has been training really well going into the race,” said trainer Liam D. Benson, who conditions the horse for his father Liam F. Benson. “He just seems to keep getting better with each work.”

Expected Ruler has worked seven times prior to his inaugural start. His latest work came on August 1 where he went four furlongs over the fast Monmouth main track in :48, which was the ninth fastest out of the 93 horses that went that distance on the day.

The 2-year-old colt is by Leroidesanimaux, a Brazilian colt who was a multiple graded stakes winner on the turf with victories in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile, Fourstardave and the Woodbine Mile. He is out of the Allen’s Prospect mare Expected Pleasures.

“He has turf in his pedigree so that should help,” said Benson. “I think he will eventually want to go two turns, but this will be a good start. He has been working well from the gate so he should be able to break well and we’ll go from there.”

Liam Benson sends out only his second stakes runner in his young training career. His only other start was Wildcatpleasures in last year’s Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth Park, who finished fourth behind winner and entrant in that year’s Haskell Albano.

Expected Ruler is one of two first-time starters in the field along with Teresa Pompay’s City Elitist. Five of the remaining eight are coming off races in which they broke their maiden in the first try.

Wilmer Garcia will be aboard Expected Ruler in Sunday’s Tyro, who also rode Benson first winner at the meet.

The Tyro will be race 11 on Sunday’s 12-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post at 12:50 p.m.

Source: Monmouth Park