Runaldo prevails in Sam Huff, caps big day for Runco, Bocachica

Trainer Jeff Runco and Arnaldo Bocachica teamed for four stakes wins together during the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic card Saturday night at Charles Town, led by the featured $300,000 Sam Huff with Runaldo.

The program featured 10 stakes for West Virginia-breds. The races were worth a total of $1 million.

Runaldo ($16) was making his stakes debut in the Sam Huff and relished the race’s 1 1/8-mile distance, as he closed for a three-quarter-length win over Jubawithatwist. It was another half-length back in third to Runco-trained Muad’dib.

Runaldo settled off fractions of 24.83 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.94 for the half-mile and 1:14.67 for six furlongs in the race run around three turns. He went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:53.23 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

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Runaldo is a son of Creative Cause who races for Huntertown Farm. He is now 5 for 12 for earnings of $228,326. Runaldo’s name was fitting for the occasion, one might presume, as it appears to combine Runco and Arnaldo Bocachica.

The Runco and Bocachica team struck right off the bat Saturday night by taking the opener, the $75,000 Vincent Moscarelli for 2-year-olds, with the promising Annapolis Road ($3). Runco felt the son of Outwork would appreciate the move to two turns and Annapolis Road responded with a 1 1/2-length win over Im the Director. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:20.13.

The second race on the card, the $75,000 Dash for Cash, also went to Runco and Bocachica, who teamed with Duncan Idaho ($6.60). He was up for a neck win over Pork Chop Pete. Penguin Power, who was seeking to win a West Virginia Breeders’ Classic race for the sixth consecutive year, closed from next to last for fifth on Saturday. The winner is a son of Fiber Sonde and covered 4 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up in 51.66. Duncan Idaho races for David Raim.

The other Runco-Bocachica winner was Change the World ($5.80), who proved 2 1/4 lengths best in the $75,000 Roger Ramey Distaff. She covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.37. Change the World is a daughter of Overanalyze and she races for Coleswood Farm.

Bocachica won a fifth stakes on the card when teaming with trainer Anthony Farrior with Diakonissa ($5.60) in the $75,000 Triple Crown Nutrition. She was a neck winner over Summon the Glam, and covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:21.25. Diakonissa is a daughter of Preservationist owned by Ultra Championship Racing.

Four bagger for McKee

Trainer Cynthia McKee won four races on the card, including the $125,000 Cavada, with Overnight Pow Wow. It was the second-richest race on the program. Overnight Pow Wow ($3.40) won by 1 1/2 lengths over Hessica.

Overnight Pow Wow was prominent through fractions of 22.68 for the opening quarter and 46.89 for the half-mile before covering seven furlongs in 1:26.88. Reshawn Latchman was aboard the daughter of Fiber Sonde for Beau Ridge Farms.

Overnight Pow Wow is out of the mare Holy Pow Wow, who also produced Saturday night stakes winner Duncan Idaho, as well as the multiple stakes winners Muad’dib and Late Night Pow Wow.

McKee trainee Direct the Cat ($2.20) improved her record to 7 for 10 with a blowout victory in the $75,000 Lottery. She won by 9 1/4 lengths, while covering six furlongs in 1:25.55. Latchman was aboard the daughter of Redirect for Beau Ridge Farms.

McKee and Latchman teamed for another blowout winner in Catch the Humor ($17.20), who romped by 10 1/2 lengths in the $75,000 Russell Road. The winner is by Girvin and covered seven furlongs in 1:25.71 for Beau Ridge Farms.

McKee trainee No Change ($10.40) defended his title in the $75,000 Onion Juice, winning by a length over Teachintherelease. Marshall Mendez was aboard No Change for Beau Ridge Farms. No Change is a son of Fiber Sonde.

*Maggie’s Girl ($3) was always prominent for a 2 1/2-length win over Mendys Honey in the $50,000 Blue and Gold. The winner covered 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.78 seconds. Larry Reynolds was aboard the daughter of Uncle Lino for Grams Racing Stable and trainer Timothy Grams.

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