Well-traveled Runner Runner poised for first U.S. win
ELMONT, N.Y. – After Mother Nature forced 33 of 35 scheduled turf races to be moved to the main track last week, grass racing is set to return at Belmont Park on Wednesday, with four events on the nine-race card scheduled for turf, including a $77,000, first-level allowance race.
Trainer Chad Brown won the only two turf races run here last week – the Grade 1 Flower Bowl and Grade 3 Hill Prince. In Runner Runner, Brown appears to have the horse to beat in Wednesday’s 1 1/4-mile feature for fillies and mares.
Runner Runner, who has raced in Britain, Germany, Dubai, and France, was purchased by bloodstock agent Brad Weisbord for a partnership and sent to Brown in the summer. In her first start in the U.S., Runner Runner finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the stakes-bound Gap Year, in a first-level allowance race going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga.
“I thought it was a really nice North American debut for her,” Brown said. “She should build off of that, and she shouldn’t have any problem with the distance. She’s a filly that trained well since the first day she’s been here. We really like her.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Runner Runner from post 9 in an 11-horse field.
The main threats appear to be the Todd Pletcher-trained uncoupled entry of Gotachancetodance and Rock Me Again, both second at this condition the last time they ran, and Promotional, who ran her best race when stretched out to nine furlongs at Delaware in her last start.
KEY CONTENDERS
Runner Runner (Beyer: 85)
◗ She was far back and closed with interest to just miss second on closing day at Saratoga in her first start in six months.
◗ Stretches out from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles, a distance at which she was beaten just a half-length in a minor stakes at Saint-Cloud in France earlier this year.
◗ Brown has a record of 9-5-3 from 31 turf starters at the meet.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Runner Runner. Trainer Chad Brown is 15-4-3-4 with a $1.66 ROI over the past two years with 3-year-olds facing elders in Belmont turf routes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Gotachancetodance (Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-78)
◗ Made a three-wide move to the front in upper stretch only to get run down late by Trophee in a similar race going 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 19 at Saratoga.
◗ She had won her previous two starts, including a $75,000 maiden claimer going a mile here June 19.
Promotional (Last 3 Beyers: 68-62-49)
◗ Overcame traffic trouble to record a 2 1/2-length maiden score at Delaware Park when trying 1 1/8 miles for the first time.
◗ She is a half-sister to and hails from the same connections as Marketing Mix, a two-time Grade 1 winner and $2 million earner.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Rock Me Again. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 39-12-2-8 with a $4.77 ROI over the past two years with 3-year-olds facing elders in Belmont turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan