Reef Runner out for remainder of year; could race in 2027
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Reef Runner, arguably the top older male turf sprinter in the country, will be sidelined the remainder of the year with a soft-tissue injury, trainer David Fawkes said Friday.
Fawkes said the injury was diagnosed shortly after he worked a half-mile in 48 seconds over the Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park on July 4. Reef Runner, who won the Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga in June, was pointing to the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy Stakes here Aug. 9 and ultimately the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in October.
Fawkes believes the horse could make it back to the races in 2027.
“It’s certainly not career ending. I think he’ll make it back, but I want to do the right thing for him and I want to give him full time,” Fawkes said. “Trying to push him to make a race – even though he has the Win and You’re In – isn’t the right thing to do.”
Fawkes said Reef Runner is convalescing at Sandhurst Thoroughbreds in Morriston, Fla., an operation run by Nick Esler.
In addition to winning the Jaipur, Reef Runner won the 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February. Fawkes is hopeful he can get Reef Runner ready for that same race in 2027.
“That’s kind of what I was thinking, get him ready to run and take him there,” Fawkes said.
Reef Runner, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, has a record 9-5-5 from 25 starts with earnings of $2,177,580.
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