Runaway Ghost back on work tab

Runaway Ghost, the Sunland Derby winner who was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby due to injury, is back on the work tab. Runaway Ghost has logged a pair of three-furlong works, his latest in 36.80 seconds Nov. 3 at Zia Park.

“He’s doing great,” said trainer Todd Fincher.

Runaway Ghost was diagnosed with a fracture in his right front cannon bone following an April 14 work for the Kentucky Derby. He underwent surgery, was rehabbed, and is now based at Zia.

“We gave him plenty of time and his shin is healed up,” Fincher said. “We put him in light training two months ago and just started breezing him very recently.”

Fincher said Runaway Ghost is on schedule to make his return to racing after the first of the year, during the upcoming meet at Sunland.

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Sunland opens Dec. 28 and runs through May 5. The track’s stakes schedule includes a handicap series for older horses led by the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on May 4. The first local prep is the $65,000 Winsham Lad on Jan. 13.

Runaway Ghost is a son of Ghostzapper who races for his breeder, Joe Peacock. He is out of the mare Rose’s Desert, a seven-time stakes winner who earned $626,035. Fincher trained Rose’s Desert for Peacock.

Runaway Ghost has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $563,510.

Fincher colt to Zia Juvenile

Myhotrodlincoln, who in May ran second by a head in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs, is targeting the $50,000 Zia Park Juvenile next, trainer Todd Fincher said.

The Zia Park Juvenile is part of the Land of Enchantment card on Nov. 21.

Myhotrodlincoln exits a runner-up finish in an Oct. 2 maiden special weight at Zia. He was beaten a neck in the 5 1/2-furlong race, which went in 1:03.43.

“He caught a really fast horse,” Fincher said. “They hooked up and beat the rest of the field a dozen lengths. He just got beat. No excuses. It was a heck of a race.”

Myhotrodlincoln earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 74. He is a son of Verrazano and Mylittledeucecoupe, who is a half-sister to champion Stardom Bound.

Fincher said Roll on Matilda, who on Sunday won the $140,000 New Mexico Cup Lassie, will be considered for the $50,000 Zia Park Princess on Nov. 21.

“We’ll play it by ear,” he said. “She ran so hard. She set really fast fractions and ran away from them. She’s a really nice filly. It was pretty impressive to me.”

Roll on Matilda won the Lassie by 5 3/4 lengths and earned a Beyer of 75 for covering six furlongs in 1:09.38.

Zia official Matt Crawford moved both 2-year-old stakes to the Land of Enchantment card this meet. The program includes the $250,000 Zia Oaks and $250,000 Zia Derby.

◗ The Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby is scheduled for March 24, according to a condition book posted on Sunland’s website. The 1 1/8-mile race will again anchor a card of seven stakes. The races include the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

◗ Bryn’s Fancy Pants, who won her fifth stakes in the $140,000 New Mexico Cup Distaff Sprint on Sunday at Zia, is being pointed for the $85,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap on Dec. 29 at Sunland, said trainer Todd Fincher.

◗ Bionic Butterfly, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Four Leaf Chief, goes in a conditioned allowance for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares Friday night at Delta Downs. Timothy Thornton has the mount in the 6 1/2-furlong race for trainer Steve Flint.

◗ Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he plans to move his stable into Oaklawn the first week of December. Stall applications were to close Thursday.