Trainer David Fawkes Hoping to Join Turf Star in Dubai
BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Alex and JoAnne Lieblong’s Reef Runner is very much on course to run in the US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint (Grade 1) on the March 28 Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse. The Gulfstream Park-based Florida-bred was shipped to Dubai directly following his impressive victory in the US$2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on February 14.
“The horse is doing great. I get videos every day. The only thing is I’m not there,” trainer David Fawkes said Thursday.
Iran has responded to the U.S. bombing of Tehran with heavy airstrikes on the Middle East area, including Dubai, causing all commercial air travel to cease. Fawkes is still hoping that he will be able to attend Reef Runner’s run in the six-furlong turf sprint at Meydan. The United Arab Emirates’ air defenses have been successful in intercepting many Iranian missiles and drones.
Fawkes is in a wait-and-see situation concerning his travel plans to Dubai.
“I have a flight right now for the 18th,” he said. “I wanted to get there earlier, but the 18th is as good as they could do for me.”
Meanwhile, Reef Runner’s training for the Al Quoz has gone uninterrupted.
“He’s training really good,” Fawkes said. “He’d doing very, very good.”
Reef Runner, a stakes winner at Gulfstream during his 3-year-old campaign, blossomed into one of the country’s top turf sprinters last year. A freshly gelded Reef Runner won the $70,000 Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap at Gulfstream on August 3 off a two-month layoff before finishing first in the Green Flash Handicap (G3) at Del Mar. However, he was disqualified and placed second. The Florida homebred son of The Big Beast made it back to the winner’s circle following a victory in the Eddie D. (G2) at Santa Anita. He finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar before closing out his 2025 campaign with a victory in the $125,000 Janus (Listed) at Gulfstream while tuning up for the 1351 Turf Sprint.
“Mr. Lieblong owns the stallion, owns the mare. It’s so nice to see people who have given a lot to the game get something out of it,” Fawkes said. “The Lieblongs have put a lot into the game for many, many years.”
Reef Runner is out of the Blame mare Paradise Bay, who the Lieblongs purchased as a yearling for $350,000 at the 2017 Keeneland Yearling Sale. They also raced Paradise Bay, a winner of one of four starts. She is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Paradise Woods, stakes-winner Forest Chatter, stakes-placed Broken Bridle and stakes-producer Economy of Motion.
Return to the March 5 issue of Wire to Wire
