Runninsonofagun returns after minor illness
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After missing the Grade 1 Carter due to a temperature, the Grade 3 stakes winner Runninsonofagun will use a third-level/optional $80,000 claiming race Thursday at Aqueduct to prepare for a return to stakes company later this spring.
The six-furlong race is carded as race 3, making it the first leg of a pick six on an eight-race program that begins the day with a $37,483 carryover after the wager went unhit Sunday. Seven were entered for this race, but trainer David Jacobson named Javier Castellano on both Synthesis and Stage Left, so one will have to scratch.
Runninsonofagun, a $40,000 claim on Dec. 31, 2021, has banked $406,050 for owner Karen Zimmerman and trainer John Toscano Jr. on the strength of a victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler last October as well as several placings in graded stakes, including a third to Jack Christopher in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens last summer.
Runninsonofagun, a gelding by Gun Runner, ended his 3-year-old campaign with a neck defeat to Greeley and Ben in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap. He made a solid 4-year-old debut by running second behind Little Vic in the Grade 3 Tom Fool on March 4.
Toscano said Runninsonofagun’s Tom Fool performance was right in line with the efforts he put in last year.
“You don’t know how they’ll come back after a break but he performed well,” Toscano said. “He’s a good, sound, hard-knocking horse. The only thing that stopped us was the fever.”
Toscano is hoping to use Thursday’s race as a stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $175,000 Runhappy at Belmont Park on May 13.
Runninsonofagun drew post 5 and there appears to be ample speed to his inside that should allow his stalking style to be effective under Kendrick Carmouche.
Mr Phil could be the primary speed from the rail under Manny Franco, who replaces Carmouche. Mr Phil won this condition twice last spring, once for the allowance condition, once for the $80,000 claiming tag for which he is being offered Thursday. Mr Phil hasn’t run since finishing third behind Isolate and Repo Rocks in the Tale of the Cat Stakes last August at Saratoga.
“He went to the farm for a while,” trainer Rob Atras said. “We put quite a few works in him; we think we got him fit enough. Looking at the form, it looks like he could be controlling speed as long as he breaks well.”
Tops the Chart won an optional claimer going a mile and 70 yards at Parx in December when trained by Paul Conrad. He will go out Thursday for Jorge Duarte Jr., who has had previous success with this gelding.
Synthesis would appear to be the stronger part of Jacobson’s entry. He won this condition last December when not offered for the claiming price, beating the New York-bred stakes winners Amundson and Market Alert. Synthesis has not been out since a second-place finish in a starter allowance on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct.
Big Engine, an 11-time winner, and Wendell Fong complete the field.
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