Bocachica sets Charles Town record with eight stakes victories
Jockey Arnaldo Bocachica won eight stakes on the nine-race West Virginia Breeders' Classic card Saturday night at Charles Town, including the $300,000 Classic with Muad’dib and the $175,000 Cavada with Star of Night.
Muad’dib is now undefeated in eight starts, while Star of Night won her eighth straight race. Both horses are trained by Jeff Runco, who won seven stakes on the night, while Muad’dib owner David Raim had a run of five stakes wins Saturday.
Bocachica set a record for jockey wins on a program at Charles Town, eclipsing the mark of seven Travis Dunkelberger achieved March 30, 2000. Dunkelberger won eight races on that day, as he also had a victory at Pimlico, according to the American Racing Manual.
Bocachica now sits in a 10-way tie for second for most jockey victories in a single day, with the American Racing Manual showing the record at nine from at least 1891 through 2020. It’s shared by Eddie Castro and Chris Antley.
Bocachica had nine mounts on the Saturday card. He guided Muad’dib to a 2 1/4-length win over Hero’s Man in the Classic. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to North Atlantic.
Muad’dib ($3.60) was content to track Hero’s Man through fractions of 25.46 for the opening quarter and 50.58 for the half-mile. Muad’dib joined the leader through six furlongs in 1:16.33, moved clear in the stretch, and went on to cover the 1 1/8-mile run around three turns in 1:54.97.
Muad’dib won his second consecutive stakes. The undefeated son of Fiber Sonde is a full brother to Late Night Pow Wow. Late Night Pow Wow won nine consecutive races at one point in her career, and overall was a seven-time stakes winner who earned more than $700,000.
Muad’dib earned $135,000 on Saturday. The undefeated runner now has a career bankroll of $287,411.
The Classic was the richest of nine restricted stakes on the West Virginia Breeders' Classic card. The races were worth a cumulative $925,000.
Bocachica has ridden Muad’dib throughout his career, while the same is true of Star of Night. In the Cavada, the filly broke last of all, but advanced down the backside, challenged leader Privately on the final turn and, after battling with that one through the stretch, was a three-quarter-length winner. Star of Night covered the seven furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:26.53.
The two-turn race was run on a fast track, as were all the races Saturday.
Star of Night ($2.20) is owned by her breeder, Huntertown Farm. She is a daughter of Creative Cause and is the reigning West Virginia-bred of the Year, it was announced at Charles Town.
Star of Night has now won 10 of 12 starts for earnings of $319,781.
Bocachica went into the Charles Town record books in the final stakes of the night, guiding Stowe Angel to a 6 3/4-length win in the $75,000 Roger Ramey. Stowe Angel ($4) races for Raim and is trained by Runco. She covered the 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares in 1:55.99.
The team of Raim, Runco and Bocachica opened the card by winning the $75,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial for 2-year-olds with Run to Daylight. The son of Runhappy was a 2 1/4-winner to improve his career record to 3 for 3. He covered the 6 1/2 furlongs run around two turns in 1:20.90. Runco trainees Amidships and Ryan’s Sword finished second and third to give the barn the trifecta Saturday.
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Raim, Runco and Bocachica struck again in the $75,000 Triple Crown Nutrition with The Sky is Falling ($20.60). The 6 1/2-furlong race was for 2-year-old fillies, and the winner scored by 1 1/2 lengths while covering the distance in 1:22.22. The Sky is Falling is by Cupid.
Raim, Runco and Bocachica also accounted for the $75,000 Onion Juice for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs with Penguin Power, who was winning the race for the third time in his career. He darted to a 3 1/4-length victory and covered the distance in 1:26.80. Penguin Power ($2.60) is a son of Fiber Sonde who has now won 14 of 22 starts for earnings of $351,147.
Social Chic ($3.60) was a neck winner over No Change in the $75,000 West Virginia Lottery for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. Bocachica was aboard for Runco, who trains the horse for the Smart Angle stable of Dan Ryan. Social Chic is by Upstart. The winner covered the two-turn distance in 1:27.06.
Runco is the current leading trainer at Charles Town. He said he is grateful for the support of his owners, his wife, Susan, and his staff. Runco said he spent several days working on all the logistics involved in starting 14 horses on the card, with at least one entrant in each race Saturday. He is a former jockey, as is Susan.
Raim won with all five of his starters on the card Saturday.
Bocachica’s other winner on the night came for trainer Ollie Figgins, with Door Buster ($3.20) in the $75,000 West Virginia Tourism Office for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs. Door Buster proved a length best while covering the distance in 1:28.45. She is a daughter of Speightster who races for Jay Reese.
Hypothesis ($4.40) was a 2 1/2-length winner over Laughing Cat in the $75,000 West Virginia Dash for Cash, covering 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.08 seconds. Jose Montano rode Hypothesis, a son of Algorithms who is owned by Jill Daniel and trained by Crystal Pickett. Bocachica and Runco finished fourth in the race with Aaron’s Tap.