Muad'dib and Star of Night put seven-race win streaks on the line on West Virginia Breeders Classic card

Trainer Jeff Runco has a pair of horses chasing after their eighth consecutive wins Saturday night at Charles Town, with Muad’dib attempting to remain undefeated when he starts in the $300,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic and Star of Night looking to keep her streak alive in the $175,000 Cavada.

“It is pretty unique,” Runco said. “Both horses are really good horses. We’ve tried to keep them in the right spots. Every time we’ve asked them to step up, they’ve stepped up, and we hope that continues on Saturday.”

The Classic and Cavada are the richest offerings on a West Virginia Breeders Classics program of nine stakes worth a cumulative $925,000. The races represent various divisions and are all restricted to horses bred or sired in West Virginia.

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Runco, who is the leading trainer at Charles Town, has at least one entrant in each race and will run 14 horses on the card.

“A night like this takes a ton of focus,” Runco said. “It’s exciting. This is the strongest group we’ve had and the most horses we’ve had [for the Classics]. It all came together.”

Muad’dib brings a 7-for-7 record into the Classic, which is for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles. All of his races have come at Charles Town, where he won his debut in a maiden special weight over seven furlongs in February 2020.

All of Muad’dib’s races have come at 6 1/2 or seven furlongs, which are two-turn races at Charles Town. The Classic will be run at three turns, and Runco thinks Muad’dib will be effective at the distance.

“He’s a really big horse,” Runco said. “He’s like 17 hands. He’s a great big horse and he’s got a huge stride. I think he’s going to be fine with the longer distance. We’ve been training him a little different to get ready for it the last six, seven weeks.”

Muad’dib comes into the Classic off a neck victory in the $75,000 Frank Gall Memorial, a seven-furlong race on Aug. 27 in which he defeated a handful of his Saturday rivals. It was the stakes debut for Muad’dib. Arnaldo Bocachica, who has been aboard for all of the horse’s starts, has the mount again Saturday when Muad’dib breaks from post 8 in the field of 10.

“I’d say he’d be somewhat forwardly placed,” Runco said.

Muad’dib, named for a fictional character in the “Dune” series of books, is a son of Fiber Sonde and the mare Holy Pow Wow, making him a full brother to Late Night Pow Wow. Late Night Pow Wow won nine consecutive races at one point in her career. She won seven stakes and earned more than $700,000.

Muad’dib races for David Raim.

Star of Night, who will face nine other fillies and mares in the seven-furlong Cavada, races for the Huntertown Farm operation of her breeder, Heinz Steinmann, and Eric Steinmann.

“These guys make it happen,” Runco said of his stable’s owners. “When you’ve got good horses, it’s easier to win races.”

Star of Night began her streak in June 2020 in an allowance at Charles Town. She knocked out three straight stakes wins after that to close out the year. Star of Night returned to action in June and added three more wins to her streak, which has been built exclusively at Charles Town. She won her seventh straight race last out in the $75,000 Sadie Hawkins on Aug. 27.

“She came off the winter layoff in good shape,” Runco said.

“Her last race, she got off a tick slow out of the gate, got in great position, and finished up strong as usual. She’s a really nice filly. She always wants to train. She puts a lot into her training every day.”

Bocachica, who has been aboard Star of Night throughout her win streak, has the mount from post 10.

The card opens with 2-year-olds going two turns in the $75,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial over 6 1/2 furlongs. Run to Daylight, owned by Raim and trained by Runco, has won both of his starts, including the $75,000 Henry Mercer Memorial on Sept. 18 at Charles Town. The son of Runhappy will be making his two-turn debut Saturday.

“We’ve done some different training with him to get him to get ready for the six and a half,” Runco said. “I think he’ll show speed. I think he’ll be okay with the six and a half.”

Runco also will saddle sharp maiden winners Ryan’s Sword and Amidships.

In the Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic for 2-year-old fillies, Fancy Her Up is the probable favorite for breeder, owner, and trainer John Casey. She won the $75,000 Rachel’s Turn last out at Charles Town and earned a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

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Aaron’s Tap, trained by Runco and owned by Dan Ryan, will be looking for his 16th win at Charles Town in the $75,000 Dash for Cash. The 4 1/2-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up.

Runco and Ryan also send out Social Chic as a top contender in the $75,000 West Virginia Lottery, which is for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. He defeated some of his Saturday rivals last out in the $75,000 Robert G. Leavitt at Charles Town. Bocachica was aboard for the 2 3/4-length win and has the mount from post 2.

Door Buster is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the $75,000 West Virginia Tourism Office, which is for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs. Trainer Ollie Figgins has given the mount to Bocachica.

Raim and Runco have the probable favorite in the $75,000 Onion Juice for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs in Penguin Power. The 13-time winner was fourth to Muad’dib last out in the Frank Gail Memorial. Bocachica has the mount from post 10.

The card closes with the $75,000 Roger Ramy Distaff for fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles. Huntertown Farm and Runco could have the favorite in See Ya Manana.