Roadrunner Stakes features plenty of class

Stallwalkin’ Dude has long been a staple in New York stakes, but on Tuesday he’s running in New Mexico. The earner of more than $1.7 million goes in the $50,000 Roadrunner at Zia Park.

Stallwalkin’ Dude is part of a field of six that includes fellow Grade 3 winner Classy Class and multiple stakes winner A M Milky Way.

The Roadrunner, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is the local prep for the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint, part of the track’s stakes-filled Land of Enchantment program on Nov. 21.

Stallwalkin’ Dude is one of the best-known runners for New York owner and trainer David Jacobson, who earlier this year sent a division of horses west to Southern California. A few of those runners have since made starts in New Mexico under the care of Zia-based trainer Justin Evans. Stallwalkin’ Dude, owned by Jacobson and Head of Plains Partners, is in that group.

Following a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar, Stallwalkin’ Dude was second by a neck in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance Sept. 24 at Zia that went in a blazing 1:02.60. D E Lover, who won the race, is an earner of more than $500,000 who came back in his next start and won another allowance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stallwalkin’ Dude, by City Place
Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-90

◗ Stallwalkin’ Dude has worked back twice at Zia since the Sept. 24 race, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.80 on Oct. 16.

◗ A closer, he could get a decent setup behind a few of these. He breaks from post 2 under Frank Reyes.

◗ Stallwalkin’ Dude won the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park in 2016 and the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct last year at the age of 7.

Classy Class, by Discreetly Mine
Last 3 Beyers: 72-82-86

◗ He won the most prestigious race of his career when he captured the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park in 2017.

◗ Classy Class finished third in the same Zia allowance as Stallwalkin’ Dude. The race was the first since May for Classy Class, who was based on the East Coast with Cheyenne Stable and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin but now races for Paul Miller and Harry Veruchi and is trained by Evans.

◗ Tracy Hebert has the mount from post 3.