Bold Act Comes Off the Bench for Sycamore Repeat Bid

Godolphin's Irish homebred Bold Act (IRE) returns from the bench Oct. 11 as he looks to win the $300,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland for the second consecutive year. The Charlie Appleby trainee rallied to capture the 1 1/2-mile event last year in his United States debut. The New Approach (IRE) gelding began his 4-year-old campaign with promise when winning the Dubai City of Gold (G2T) at Meydan March 2, but has gone 0-for-3 in the U.S. since. Unraced since finishing third in the June 15 Chorleywood Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, Bold Act received 3-1 morning-line favoritism. He breaks from the outside post in the field of 11. Directly to his inside is the 7-2 second choice. West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., and Lynne Hudson's Ohana Honor was third in the 1 3/16-mile Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course June 8 and was most recently fourth in the July 28 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at 1 3/8 miles. The Shug McGaughey-trained son of Honor Code's lone start at Keeneland was a 5 3/4-length allowance victory over 1 1/2 miles on grass this spring. Susan and Jim Hill's Highway Robber is among a group of horses who last raced at Kentucky Downs. In his first start at 1 1/2 miles, the Hard Spun gelding ran second, beaten a half-length, in the Sept. 7 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2T). Third-place finisher Tawny Port and sixth-place Cathkin Peak (IRE) also return from that race.