Run Away Rojo wins the Bucchero after it's rained off the turf
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Run Away Rojo might not have stood a great chance in the Bucchero Handicap had the race remained, as carded, on turf. The 5-year-old had made just one previous grass start – decent, nothing special – but both Indiana-bred stakes on Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis were moved to dirt because of heavy early-week rain, and Run Away Rojo captured the $100,000 Bucchero by a neck.
One race earlier, Louder Than Words, capable on both surfaces, won the $100,000 Peony Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths over 2-1 favorite Three Coats.
Run Away Rojo, with Keith Asmussen riding for trainer Steve Asmussen and owners West Point Thoroughbreds and James Nichols, won his first stakes race since June 2023 while making his second start since ownership moved the horse into Asmussen’s barn.
The wire came just in time for him. Run Away Rojo stalked the pace and surged to the lead inside the final furlong, looking like he’d win clear. But even-money favorite Chicory Blue, after spinning his wheels through most of the homestretch, suddenly came to life, diving to the inside and finishing with flourish as he just missed running down the winner.
Funtastic Vow, who set a strong half-mile pace of 46.21 seconds, held on for third, one length out of second. Run Away Rojo clocked 1:43.67 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track and paid $12. The gelding, bred by Sharon Dodgen and Barak Farm, is by Run Away and Hide and out of Aunt Sherri, by Stephen Got Even.
Louder Than Words’s victory under Marcelino Pedroza Jr. proved more definitive. The 6-year-old mare, trained by Tony Granitz, who owns her in partnership with Michael Wern and Bob Dhondt, pressed a half-mile split of 48.20 seconds set by Crosley, took command in upper stretch, carried a 2 1/2-length lead past the stretch call, and never received a serious challenge. Three Coats narrowed the gap through the final furlong without threatening the winner, finishing 4 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Crosley.
Bred by Pat Doran and Dennis Doran, Louder Than Words is by Mr Speaker out of Lionontheedge, by American Lion. She won for the eighth time and has finished first or second in 19 of her 27 starts while going over the half-million mark in earnings with her Peony score.
Louder Than Words got her 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.27 and paid $17.60. She’d finished second in the 2022 Peony, won it in 2023, was second again last year, and, undeterred by Wednesday’s surface switch, came out on top again this year.
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