Aloma's Ruler (USA)
April 21, 1979 – June 21, 2003
Iron Ruler (USA) x Aloma (USA), by Native Charger (USA)
Family 9-h
April 21, 1979 – June 21, 2003
Iron Ruler (USA) x Aloma (USA), by Native Charger (USA)
Family 9-h
Aloma's Ruler perhaps did not get the respect he truly deserved during his 3-year-old season. Although he won the 1982 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), a fair number of observers attributed this to his being allowed to set an unpressured pace in the Pimlico classic, leaving him with enough to stand off favored Linkage. While Aloma's Ruler faded to ninth next out in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and did not win another graded race for the rest of the season, his consistency and grit in top-end events throughout the summer caused Daily Racing Form handicapper Eual Wyatt to rank him second behind American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo in assessing the season's sophomore males. Unfortunately, injury cut his racing career short after the 1982 Travers Stakes (USA-G1), and he was a failure at stud.
Race record
13 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$498,883
1981:
1982:
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1982, 3 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Aloma's Ruler was a confirmed front-runner but was gritty and would fight on tenaciously when hooked. He had a long, fluid stride. He did not handle off going well. He suffered a career-ending ankle injury while running second to Runaway Groom in the 1982 Travers Stakes (USA-G1). He was good-natured and energetic. He was a shy breeder with low libido, a trait that did not help his stud career after word got out.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Aloma's Ruler sired 217 winners (66.6%) and five stakes winners (1.5%) from 326 named foals. His obituary in the Daily Racing Form credited him with six stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Aloma's Ruler was bred by Silk Willoughby Farm. He was owned by Baltimore businessman Nathan "Red" Scherr, who purchased the colt for US$92,000 from the Florida Breeders' Sales 1981 Hialeah sale of 2-year-olds in training. He was trained by John "Butch" Lenzini Jr. After beginning his stud career in Kentucky, Aloma's Ruler stood at Shamrock Farm, Maryland, in 1989-1996 and was then sent to Le Roy Bormet's B&B Farm, a facility about 50 miles from Chicago. In early 2003, Aloma's Ruler was pensioned at Gary Clark's farm in northern Illinois, where he was found dead in his paddock on June 21, 2003.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1968 Jerome Handicap winner Iron Ruler (by Never Bend), Aloma's Ruler is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course in Europe. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Aloma's Tobin (by J. O. Tobin).
Aloma, the dam of Aloma's ruler, failed to win or place in three tries but is a half sister to Honey's Flag (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Catienus (a leading regional sire in New York) and third dam of 2012 Mile Championhip (JPN-G1) winner Sadamu Patek and 2018 Victoria Mile (JPN-G1) winner Jour Polaire. The sisters are out of Cathy Honey (by 1960 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Francis S.), winner of the 1970 Acorn Stakes and Ladies Handicap.
Cathy Honey, in turn, is out of Honey Ration (by 1939 Derby Stakes winner Blue Peter), a full sister to English stakes winners Messmate and Running Blue. The last-named mare is the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Sir Penfro (by Sir Ivor), French Group 3 winner Northern Tavern (by Charlottesville), 1967 Blandford Stakes winner Dominion Day II (by Charlottesville), and multiple Irish stakes winner Padroug (by Sir Ivor). In addition, Honey Ration is a half sister to 1963 July Stakes winner Endless Honey (by Never Say Die) and to Sticky Portion, dam of multiple European stakes winner and good sire Lord Gayle (by Sir Gaylord), 1971 Del Mar Derby winner Regal Case (by Mongo), and multiple Group 3 winner Never Return (by Ribot). Finally, Honey Ration (whose dam is the Hyperion mare Run Honey) is a half sister to Honey Portion, dam of Irish Group 3 winner I've a Bee (by Sir Ivor) and European stakes winners Praefectus (by Primera) and Honey Crepe (by Crepello), and to Runnello II, dam of French Group 3 winner Banjer (by Baldric).
Books and media
Aloma's Ruler is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 15, 2023
Race record
13 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$498,883
1981:
- Won Nutley Stakes (USA, 6FD, The Meadowlands)
1982:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Atlantic City)
- Won Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1982, 3 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Aloma's Ruler was a confirmed front-runner but was gritty and would fight on tenaciously when hooked. He had a long, fluid stride. He did not handle off going well. He suffered a career-ending ankle injury while running second to Runaway Groom in the 1982 Travers Stakes (USA-G1). He was good-natured and energetic. He was a shy breeder with low libido, a trait that did not help his stud career after word got out.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Aloma's Ruler sired 217 winners (66.6%) and five stakes winners (1.5%) from 326 named foals. His obituary in the Daily Racing Form credited him with six stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Aloma's Ruler was bred by Silk Willoughby Farm. He was owned by Baltimore businessman Nathan "Red" Scherr, who purchased the colt for US$92,000 from the Florida Breeders' Sales 1981 Hialeah sale of 2-year-olds in training. He was trained by John "Butch" Lenzini Jr. After beginning his stud career in Kentucky, Aloma's Ruler stood at Shamrock Farm, Maryland, in 1989-1996 and was then sent to Le Roy Bormet's B&B Farm, a facility about 50 miles from Chicago. In early 2003, Aloma's Ruler was pensioned at Gary Clark's farm in northern Illinois, where he was found dead in his paddock on June 21, 2003.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1968 Jerome Handicap winner Iron Ruler (by Never Bend), Aloma's Ruler is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course in Europe. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Aloma's Tobin (by J. O. Tobin).
Aloma, the dam of Aloma's ruler, failed to win or place in three tries but is a half sister to Honey's Flag (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Catienus (a leading regional sire in New York) and third dam of 2012 Mile Championhip (JPN-G1) winner Sadamu Patek and 2018 Victoria Mile (JPN-G1) winner Jour Polaire. The sisters are out of Cathy Honey (by 1960 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Francis S.), winner of the 1970 Acorn Stakes and Ladies Handicap.
Cathy Honey, in turn, is out of Honey Ration (by 1939 Derby Stakes winner Blue Peter), a full sister to English stakes winners Messmate and Running Blue. The last-named mare is the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Sir Penfro (by Sir Ivor), French Group 3 winner Northern Tavern (by Charlottesville), 1967 Blandford Stakes winner Dominion Day II (by Charlottesville), and multiple Irish stakes winner Padroug (by Sir Ivor). In addition, Honey Ration is a half sister to 1963 July Stakes winner Endless Honey (by Never Say Die) and to Sticky Portion, dam of multiple European stakes winner and good sire Lord Gayle (by Sir Gaylord), 1971 Del Mar Derby winner Regal Case (by Mongo), and multiple Group 3 winner Never Return (by Ribot). Finally, Honey Ration (whose dam is the Hyperion mare Run Honey) is a half sister to Honey Portion, dam of Irish Group 3 winner I've a Bee (by Sir Ivor) and European stakes winners Praefectus (by Primera) and Honey Crepe (by Crepello), and to Runnello II, dam of French Group 3 winner Banjer (by Baldric).
Books and media
Aloma's Ruler is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Aloma's Ruler made Jack Kaenel (born July 27, 1965) the youngest rider ever to win the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). Following the race, 16-year-old Kaenel delighted the crowd by removing his riding helmet and donning a 10-gallon cowboy hat for the trip to the winner's circle. Although he never rode in another Triple Crown race after Aloma's Ruler faded to ninth in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), “Cowboy” Kaenel eventually racked up over 2,000 wins in the saddle and was the regular pilot for 1989 American champion turf mare Brown Bess during her championship season.
- After Aloma's Ruler initially injured his ankle early in the spring of 1982, trainer Butch Lenzini experimented with using electrocurrent therapy to stimulate healing. Apparently it worked, or at least did no harm. Trainer Woody Stephens made similar use of this therapy in treating a saucer fracture on Conquistador Cielo, likewise with apparently beneficial results.
Last updated: August 15, 2023