Downs at Albuquerque Handicap the target for Runaway Ghost

Runaway Ghost is back home in New Mexico and pointing to the state’s richest race for 3-year-olds and up, the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 3.

Runaway Ghost has won 5 of his 6 stakes starts in New Mexico, with his biggest scores coming in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby in 2018 and the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on May 4. Following the Sunland Park Handicap, he traveled to Churchill Downs and ran eighth in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on June 15.

“He came back good, had a good work this morning,” trainer Todd Fincher said Tuesday.

Runaway Ghost had his first work back, drilling five-eighths in a bullet 1:01.80 at his base of Ruidoso Downs. He could make one start before the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap. Fincher said an option is the J.R. Malouff Handicap at seven furlongs on July 13 at Albuquerque.

Sheriff Brown, a 3-year-old half-brother to Runaway Ghost by Curlin, has returned to the work tab following his runner-up finish in the $106,000 Riley Allison Derby won by Nitrous on Jan. 27.

Fincher trains both Runaway Ghost and Sheriff Brown for breeder Joe Peacock, and he said that Sheriff Brown could be ready to run at the end of Albuquerque or during the fall meet at Zia Park.

Hustle Up, who won the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland in February, could see stakes action later this month at Ruidoso Downs. Fincher said he is being considered for the $50,000 Road Runner for 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico on July 28.

The barn’s latest stakes winner, Deck Humor, is being pointed to the Aug. 10 trials for the Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity at Ruidoso, Fincher said. The $175,000 finale is Sept. 2.

Deck Humor is coming off a win in the $157,000 Mountain Top Futurity on June 22 at Ruidoso. It was the third straight year Fincher has co-bred and trained the winner of the Mountain Top Futurity, behind On the Lowdown in 2017 and Hustle Up in 2018.

Fincher will see stakes action Saturday night at Albuquerque, with three starters in the $80,000 Petticoat for 3-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico.