BY BROCK SHERIDAN
After making his first two starts of the year in the Middle East, including a determined neck victory ahead of Lazzat (Fr) in the Group 2, $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Qiddiya City at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on February 14, Florida-bred Reef Runner heads to Saratoga Race Course for Saturday’s Grade 1 Jaipur. The David Fawkes-trained Reef Runner is among ten 3-year-olds and older set to go five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf in the $500,000 Jaipur.
The Jaipur is also carries a Win and You’re In invitation to the Breeders’ Cup Prevagen Turf Sprint (G1) to be run October 31 at Keeneland.
“I wouldn’t mind a little further distance in this race, but he’s won from six and three-quarters [furlongs] and below – he’s pretty versatile,” Fawkes said.
Reef Runner also shoots for a $7,500 Florida-bred Export Incentive for an out-of-state victory in the Jaipur, paid to breeders Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway, Arkansas by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The Lieblongs also own Reef Runner.
In one start since the 1351 Sprint, Reef Runner was fourth, just a length-and-a-half off winner Native Approach (GB), in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments on the Dubai World Cup (G1) undercard on March 28. Under William Buick, Reef Runner never got underway in the Al Quoz, run over a straight six furlongs.
“[Buick] said he was looking for a turn, but he was looking for a harder surface to be honest,” Fawkes said. “He doesn’t have the biggest feet in the world. Some of these turf horses have a little bit bigger foot, but he doesn’t. He’s got to have his surface.”
Last year, Reef Runner had a breakout campaign after being gelded in July, returning from a three-month break on August 3 to win the $70,000 Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap sprinting five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park grass. Fawkes then shipped him to the west coast for the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap racing five furlongs the Del Mar turf where he crossed the wire first ahead of defending champion Motorious (GB). However, Reef Runner was disqualified for interference early in the race and placed second. He rebounded to win the Grade 2 Eddie D on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita on September 27 before finishing fourth in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on November 1. He finished last year by taking the $135,000 Janus (Listed) by a length at Gulfstream Park on December 20.
After his Middle East races, Reef Runner was sent to Ocala for a three-and-a-half-week rest at Nick Esler’s Sandhurst Thoroughbreds before returning to training with Fawkes in South Florida.
“He’s doing great, his works have been phenomenal and everything about him is better,” Fawkes said. “Obviously gelding him was a huge factor and he turned around. He lost weight up in his neck and chest where these colts carry weight and it really evened him out. He’s nice and level, and he’s more balanced.”
Reef Runner sports a career ledger of eight wins, five seconds and five thirds from 24 with earnings of $1,902,580. He is by The Big Beast out of the Blame mare Paradise Bay.
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode him to victory in Riyadh, gets back aboard Saturday. They are 4-1 on the morning line and have post five.
Ag Bullet, winner of last year’s Jaipur and Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs in successive starts, is the 3-1 morning line favorite.
The 6-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy was second to Shisospicy in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a length-and-a-half ahead of Reef Runner.
Ag Bullet makes her first start in her only race since the Breeders’ Cup when third in the Grade 1 Matriarch going a mile on the turf at Del Mar on November 30.
Ag Bullet is trained by Richard Baltas for Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran and has won eight of 17 career starts with a second and three thirds. She has banked $2,977,228.
John Velazquez, who rode her in last year’s Jaipur and in both the Breeders’ Cup and Matriarch, has the return mount from post six.
Litigation, who has won two of four starts since finishing sixth behind Reef Runner in the Janus, is 7-2 in the program for trainer Brian Lynch.
The 4-year-old son of Twirling Candy won the Listed Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in January and the Listed Silks Run on March 7. In two races since, he was fourth in the Grade 2 Valvoline Global Shakertown won by Jaipur rival My Boy Prince at Keeneland in April and third, just a neck off winner Yellow Card,; in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Accenture at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Florent Geroux will guide Litigation from post three.
Also entered are Governor Sam with jockey Paco Lopez, Bold Journey with Junior Alvarado up, Flavien Prat rides Works for Me, Clock Tower will have Dylan Davis aboard, John the Beer Man has Kendrick Carmouche taking the riding assignment, Manny Franco will take the reins on Twenty Six Black and My Boy Prince with Jose Ortiz in the irons.
Return to the June 3 issue of Wire to Wire
