Barretts Juvenile right in Run Away's wheelhouse

CYPRESS, Calif. – The career direction of Run Away is undetermined in these early days of autumn.

The summer was a success for Run Away – two sprint-stakes wins and a third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 4 – but owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan have yet to decide whether to pursue two-turn races or stay in sprints with him.

On Saturday, Run Away will have the race conditions to his advantage in the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos. The last time Run Away started at 6 1/2 furlongs, he won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 12.

“The distance is nice for him,” Callaghan said. “It’s a little bit of class relief.”

Run Away is part of a field of seven. The Barretts Juvenile, restricted to horses offered at auctions conducted by the sales company, is the last of four stakes at the Los Angeles County Fair season at Los Alamitos. The meeting ends Sunday. Santa Anita opens its autumn meeting Friday.+

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KEY CONTENDERS

Run Away, by Run Away and Hide
Last 3 Beyers: 74-75-85

◗ Run Away, bought for $325,000 at the Barretts select sale of 2-year-olds in training in March, won the Santa Anita Juvenile at 5 1/2 furlongs in July before the win in the Best Pal Stakes. In the Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs, Run Away was near the lead for the first half-mile and faded to finish 5 1/2 lengths behind winner Bolt d’Oro.

“He’s done a few maintenance works since his last race,” Callaghan said. “He’s trained with great energy and gives us no reason not to run.

“I think in his race at Del Mar last time, he set strong fractions on the inside and took pressure all the way.”

◗ Run Away, who has led or disputed the pace in each of his races, is the lone stakes winner in this field. On Wednesday, Callaghan was reluctant to predict how Run Away will be campaigned later this year should he run to expectations Saturday.

“We plan to run him and figure out whether we stretch him out or keep him sprinting,” he said.

Smokem, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 70-65-64

◗ Smokem, who was listed as a buyback for $120,000 at the 2016 Barretts select yearling sale, was second in two stakes for California-breds at Del Mar.

He was beaten three-quarters of a length by Continental Divide after a slow start in the Graduation Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 6. In the I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs on Sept. 1, Smokem raced wide and finished 3 1/4 lengths behind runaway leader Bookies Luck.

“He had a tough Del Mar,” trainer Gary Sherlock said. “He had a terrible trip in the first stakes. The last race, [Bookies Luck] flew out, and no one went with him.”

◗ The Barretts Juvenile be the fourth start and longest race for Smokem.

“I like it better,” Sherlock said.

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