Run Away sticks around for Santa Anita Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the last month, the 2-year-old debut winner Run Away had been considered for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, run on Friday. But owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan have decided Run Away will have his stakes debut in Monday’s $100,000 Santa Anita Juvenile at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Run Away will have plenty to do to beat the speedy Sir Valentine, unraced since an impressive maiden win on May 6.

In early June, Run Away was sent to Kentucky, where he had a turf workout at Keeneland for the stakes at Royal Ascot.

“It didn’t go as well as we hoped,” Callaghan said. “If you’re going there, you’ve got to believe you can win.”

Back in California, Run Away is part of a field of six in a race that was scheduled for Sunday but postponed to Monday after initially drawing only five entries.

Monday’s field includes five maiden winners and the first-time starter Encumbered, trained by Callaghan for Paul and Zillah Reddam. Encumbered was supplemented for $2,000.

Cono won a maiden race for California-breds on June 16 in his second start, having been second to Sir Valentine on May 6. Big Boy Candy won a $50,000 claimer for maidens by 8 1/4 lengths, the day he was claimed by owner Robert Cannon and trainer Alfredo Marquez. Argosy Fleet won a maiden race by a head as the favorite at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 12.

The Santa Anita Juvenile is the fifth race on the penultimate program of the spring-summer meeting. Tuesday is closing day. Los Alamitos begins its two-week summer meeting on Thursday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Run Away, by Run Away and Hide
Beyer: 64
◗ Run Away was sent to Kentucky because turf works are not held at Santa Anita. After working a half-mile on dirt in 48.40 seconds at Keeneland on June 17, Run Away worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita on June 25.
“His work back here was really good,” Callaghan said. “I think he’s the horse to beat.”
◗ Purchased for $325,000 at the Barretts select sale of 2-year-olds in training in March, Run Away won by 2 1/4 lengths in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 26.

Sir Valentine, by Heat Shield
Beyer: 70
◗ Sir Valentine won a maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths, dueling for the lead throughout the 4 1/2 furlongs after breaking from the rail.
“He’s grown up a lot and filled out,” owner and trainer Kristin Mulhall said. “When we put him in the gate, he outbreaks everything by two lengths. He’s naturally fast.
“I think he’ll move up after his race. If he breaks fast, they’ll have to catch him.”

Encumbered, by Violence
◗ Encumbered, bought for $225,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2-year-olds in training sale in April, drew the outside post, which could work to his advantage if a speed duel develops between Run Away and Sir Valentine.
“We really like him,” Callaghan said. “There is speed in there.”