BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Reef Runner is set to make his first start since finishing fourth in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) as one of four Florida-breds entered for the $125,000 Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The David Fawkes-trained son of The Big Beast joins fellow Sunshine State-natives Asher’s Edge, Full Disclosure and And Uwish in the field of nine 3-year-olds and older that will race five furlongs on the turf.
Reef Runner finished first in three consecutive starts before to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, although he was disqualified and placed second after nosing out 9-5 favorite Mortorious (GB) in the Grade 3 Green Flash at Del Mar on Aug. 30. Undeterred, he rebounded strong to win the Grade 3 Eddie D by a half-length going six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill course at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, setting him up for his credible run in the Breeders’ Cup.
“It looked bad, but I don’t think it was too much interference on his part,” Alex Lieblong said of the Green Flash. “I was kind of tickled when he came back in the Eddie Read and [won]. In the Breeders’ Cup, when [winner Shisospicy] went out to the lead by [herself], that was an impressive race. [Reef Runner] did not embarrass himself.”
While in Southern California, Reef Runner resided at the barn of John Sadle under the care of assistant trainer Juan Leyva.
“Juan Leyva and the team did a wonderful job out there with him. Every time I’d see him, he glowed like a new penny. They did a phenomenal job,” Fawkes said. “He came back good and he’s been doing fantastic.”
In his last race in Florida on Aug. 3 before heading West for the Green Flash, Reef Runner won the five-furlong, $70,000 Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap on the turf as the 122-pound co-highweight. That was his first start as a gelding and first race in more than three months when third in a upper tier allowance sprint on the grass at Gulfstream on May 1.
This will also be his second run in the Janus having finished third to Coppola in last year’s edition. The Dale Romans-trained Coppola returns Saturday to defend his title.
“We’re happy to have him back and doing well,” Lieblong said. “We’re looking forward to the race.”
Reef Runner has earned $552,405 for the Lieblongs, who also bred the 4-year-old out of the Blame mare Paradise Bay. He has won six with five seconds and five thirds in 21 starts.
“He’s such a cool horse,” Fawkes said. “He’s just like having a Jack Russell in the barn. He’s a character. He’s a good-looking animal and he’s a lot of fun.”
A victory by Reef Runner would also be a boost for him in the Chase to the Championship standings for Florida-bred champions. He is currently tied with Bring Theband Home and Tank with seven points each for the title of Florida-bred Champion Male Turf Horse.
Tyler Gaffalione rode Reef Runner for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup and will be aboard again Saturday. They will break from post eight.
Full Disclosure comes off a victory in the five-and-a-half-furlong $70,000 Chasing Artie overnight handicap on the Gulfstream synthetic on Nov. 22 in which he topped a Florda-bred trifecta, winning by a length-and-a-half ahead of And Uwish in second with Asher’s Edge three-quarters of a length farther back third.
That was his first start for trainer Mohamed Jehaludi and first since December of 2024 when fourth in a $25,000 starter allowance, optional claiming sprinting on the Gulfstream synthetic. That was his lone start for trainer Shivananda Parbhoo, who had claimed Full Disclosure from the David Fawkes barn for $25,000 out of a second-place finish in a first level, optional claiming in November of last year.
Owned by Sherry Racing Inc., Full Disclosure has won eight with five seconds and three thirds in 29 career starts with earnings of $334,080. He is by Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze out of Theladysaidno, by Conerto and was bred in Florida by Shady Brook Farm Inc.
Miguel Vasquez will ride Full Disclosure from post two.
Fawkes also saddles Asher’s Edge, a winner of two of seven starts this year with two thirds including a victory in the $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, which was moved to five furlongs on the synthetic course due to weather at Gulfstream on Sept. 20.
Asher’s Edge was off the board in the Warrior’s Pride and fourth in the $70,000 Successful Native overnight handicap won by And Uwish going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream all-weather course on July 6. Last winter he won two consecutive first tier optional claiming races at Gulfstream. On Dec. 19 of 2024, he took a $20,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on synthetic then won a $25,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the grass.
Asher’s Edge is by Competitive Edge out of Donelle, by Roman Ruler and was bred in Florida by JJ Brevan Stable LLC. His lifetime record reflects four wins, three seconds and four thirds in 15 starts with earnings of $220,320.
Edwin Gonzalez has the mount from post one.
And Uwish looks for his first stakes victory out of his runner-up to Full Disclosure in the Chasing Artie.
Trained and owned by Joe Orseno in partnership with breeders Adam Parker and Suzette Parker, the consistent And Uwish sports three wins and three seconds in nine career starts. The 4-year-old son of Mshawish out of Elective, by Grand Slam has banked $159,330 during his time on the track.
Edgard Zayas, who has ridden And Uwish in his last six races, returns to ride from the outside post nine.
Others entered include Spiced Up with Junior Alvarado in the saddle, John Velazquez rides Boat’s a Rockin, Coppola and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Whenigettoheaven has David Egan named to ride and Mario Gutierrez will guide Litigation.
Return to the December 18 issue of Wire to Wire
