Run It fires big at Pleasanton

Trainer Dennis Patterson admitted the race was a perfect setup, and jockey Chad Schvaneveldt called Run It's performance "Fourth of July fireworks" as the 4-year-old colt scored a decisive victory in the $56,700 Alamedan Handicap at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Calif., on Sunday.

Run It, coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Berkeley at Golden Gate Fields on May 31, surprisingly was not favored in the 1 1/16-mile race. Warren's Pepe, whom he had already defeated twice this year, was favored but never got the lead and had to be pulled up and vanned off.

Sent off at 2-1, Run It sat behind pacesetting Live Sundays, who was kept honest early by Slew the Man. Live Sundays ran a 46.93 half and 1:10.69 six furlongs. Run It made a quick move at the quarter pole and over after passing the eighth pole.

Run It, scoring his eighth victory in 21 starts, won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:42.19 and paid $6. Live Sundays was 7 1/2 lengths in front of Slew the Man, who was an easy third.

"It looked like on paper it would set up for him," said Patterson.

Schvaneveldt said he began his winning move sooner than he wanted, "but I had so much horse I just let him go."

A Mercedes Stables homebred by Cherokee Run, Run It earned $31,600 to increase his career earnings to $250,320.