Hometown horse Runnin’toluvya scores in Charles Town Classic

Runnin’toluvya has become all but unbeatable at Charles Town, and even in the $1 million Charles Town Classic on Saturday, nobody could push him off his perch.

Runnin’toluvya battled with Diamond King the entire nine-furlong trip in the CT Classic, got the better of his pace rival, and became the first West Virginia-bred to win the biggest race in his home state, scoring by a half-length.

Diamond King stayed on gamely to finish a clear second with War Story along late to notch his second third-place finish in the CT Classic to go along with his runner-up showing last year. Rally Cry, who got a perfect trip stalking the leading pair, had nothing for the stretch run and checked in fourth. Off splits of 24 seconds, 48.25, 1:12.48, and 1:37.01, Runnin’toluvya was timed in 1:50.56 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track. He paid $21.20 to win.

“My horse, when he had the lead in the stretch, he always gave me another gear,” said Oscar Flores, who has ridden Runnin’toluvya throughout his career. “Whenever I asked, my horse just responded again. Every time I asked, he gave me more.”

A 5-year-old gelding by Fiber Sonde out of Lov’emnrun, by Not For Love, Runnin’toluvya was bred by Leslie Cromer, is owned by Grams Racing Stable, and is trained by Tim Grams. Runnin’toluvya was a talented 2-year-old of 2016 but missed his entire 3-year-old season before making it back to the races in April 2018. He won his comeback start, was beaten a neck in his second race back, and has since reeled off nine straight wins, all at Charles Town and culminating in Saturday’s rich victory.

Grams steadily stretched Runnin’toluvya out in distance last season and was rewarded with a win in the rich West Virginia Breeders Classic, and with just one race this spring following a winter break, Grams had his stable star ready for a peak performance going nine furlongs again in the Classic.

Flores, Runnin’toluvya’s regular rider, hustled his mount away from an outside draw but allowed Diamond King to make the lead into the first turn and down the backstretch. Bending into the clubhouse turn, Flores turned up the heat, coming abreast Diamond King, and as the pair cornered into the short Charles Town homestretch, it was Runnin’toluvya who had the advantage. Diamond King fought on, but Runnin’toluvya never released his grip on the lead, fighting all the way to the wire to post a breakthrough win for himself, his jockey, and his owner-trainer.

“It’s really big. I know this sounds corny, but this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me besides me meeting my wife 18 years ago,” said Grams. “This is just unbelievable. Especially for a country boy that didn’t have anything. It means anybody who walks through this gate here has a chance.”

► Odds-on favorite Parisian Diva briefly lost her action just before turning for home but found a gaping hole when pacesetting Chiefs Kingdom bore out and went on to a 2 1/2 length win in the $50,000 Its Binn Too Long for West Virginia-bred 3-year-old fillies. Stacy Viands trains Parisian Diva for owner Melinda Golden. Parisian Diva is by Freedom Child out of Paris Heiress, by Wildcat Heir.