Ronald R's ascent may be tested in Seabiscuit

Ronald R went from winning a $40,000 claimer in May 2018 to a victory in the restricted Lure Stakes at Santa Anita last Thursday. Now trainer Ron Ellis is considering giving Ronald R his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap on Nov. 30 at Del Mar.

The $200,000 race is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf and would be a test for Ronald R, who missed more than a year of racing because of body soreness diagnosed in the summer of 2018, Ellis said. Since returning to racing in July, Ronald R is unbeaten in three starts – two optional claimers at the Del Mar summer meeting and the Lure Stakes.

Ronald R, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, has earned $122,220 this year. His owner, Jim Harrison, races under the stable name Hotter Than H Racing.

A winner of 6 of 15 starts, Ronald R was claimed in May 2018 and remained in training for a brief time following that race before he was turned out.

“I tried to get him to the races for a couple of months and I kind of gave up,” Ellis said. “He wouldn’t get over the body soreness.”

Ronald R resumed workouts in March before his return to racing in July. In the Lure Stakes at a mile on turf, Ronald R closed from last in a field of nine to win by a half-length at 13-1 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke.