Heaven's Runway, Bonita Bianca taking a break

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said that the recent stakes winners Heaven’s Runway and Bonita Bianca are getting a brief freshening before their next starts, which could come in February.

Heaven’s Runway, the winner of the Dave’s Friend at Laurel on Dec. 31 and the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving Day, will be in light training for a few weeks. He could point to the Grade 3, $250,000 General George at Laurel on Feb. 18 or wait for the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool at Aqueduct on March 11 or the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 8.

“I’m going to jog him for a couple of weeks, keep him fresh,” Rodriguez said. “That horse looks like he’s getting better.”

Bonita Bianca, the winner of the East View Stakes for New York-breds on Dec. 30, was sent to the Fair Hill Training Center for a few weeks. Though nominated to Sunday’s Busanda, Bonita Bianca will not run in that race. She could point to the Busher Stakes on Feb. 25 over the inner track.

Rodriguez will still be represented in the Busanda by Libby’s Tail, beaten a head by Yellow Agate in the Grade 1 Frizette last October.