Runaway Ghost ends hiatus with Fort Bliss victory

Runaway Ghost returned a winner Saturday at Sunland Park.

The horse who was forced to miss last year’s Kentucky Derby after sustaining an injury in one of his final works for the classic rallied on Saturday to win the $75,000 Fort Bliss Stakes. It was his first start since last March, when he accounted for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.

Runaway Ghost ($3.20) broke well in the Fort Bliss and stalked the pace in third as Secular Nation jumped out to a clear lead, setting fractions of 21.88 seconds and a half-mile in 44.33 seconds. Runaway Ghost took up the chase in earnest on the turn, moved past the leader in the final furlong, and covered the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.44.

Santiago Gonzalez was aboard for trainer Todd Fincher.

Runaway Ghost won by 2 1/2 lengths over Secular Nation, while it was another 5 3/4 lengths back to Cowboy Cool in third.

Runaway Ghost had been sidelined with a fracture to his right front cannon bone. He won the fourth stakes race of his career Saturday. He has now won 5 of 8 starts and earned $608,510. Runaway Ghost is a son of Ghostzapper who races for his breeder, Joe Peacock. He is out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Rose’s Desert, a seven-time stakes winner – all in New Mexico – who earned $626,035.

The Fort Bliss was one of three stakes on the card. Fincher won a second stakes Saturday when Hustle Up rolled by 5 1/2 lengths in the $85,000 Red Hedeman Mile for 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico. It was the fourth career stakes win for Hustle Up, who improved his record to 7 for 9.

Hustle Up ($3) covered the distance on a fast track in 1:39.21. Luis Contreras was aboard the son of Abstraction who races for Dale F. Taylor Racing, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby. Hustle Up has now earned $303,143.

Sunscreen finished second and it was another half-length back to Quite Peace in third.

In the $85,000 Enchantress for 3-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico, Precious Looker ($8.80) remained undefeated in two starts when she won her two-turn debut. She was a nose winner over Singing Mary, and it was another three lengths back to Reina De Norte in third.