OCEANPORT, N.J.— Bone, Robert D. and Magic Stable, LLC’s I Can Run lived up to her name in Sunday’s $104,000 Eleven North Handicap at Monmouth Park.
With jockey Carlos Rojas (who rode his first stateside race on May 22nd of this year) in the irons, I Can Run broke well from post position 7 of 8 in the six-furlong dirt contest. The Tourist filly raced three wide off the pace, 1 ½ lengths off of frontrunning Roselba, who zipped through the opening quarter in 22.30.
As the field of eight fillies and mares rounded the far turn, the ½-mile run in 44.92, I Can Run began her rally, finding herself five wide down the stretch. Running into ⅝ fractions of 57.52, she closed well and finished willingly, drawing away by 1 ¾ lengths. The final time was 1:10.38.
I Can Run, the 9/2 third choice, was an 11.00 winner.
The favored Alta Velocita closed well to finish a length behind the winner. Off at 2/1, she paid 3.80 to place. Early leader Roselba held on for show and paid 4.80 for her effort.
Trainer Claudio Gonzalez said he had always liked his winning filly:
“I have been telling the owners (Robert Bone and Magic Stables) that she has shown talent in the mornings. The only thing is she has to be a little more mature. But I have always liked this filly. The only thing I was worried about today was the (shorter six-furlong) distance. She broke well and was able to get position and they were going pretty fast, which was good for us since she likes to come from behind. She has been good this year and finally seems to be maturing. She is getting better and better every race.”
Jockey Claudio Rojas earned his first stakes victory aboard I Can Run:
“Claudio told me to get her in a good position early and by the three-eighths just let her run. She prefers longer but I knew if they would go quick early she would come running late. That’s what happened. They went fast, I sat a great trip and she came running late. I’m very happy with her. This is my first stakes win. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Prior to her stakes score, I Can Run had won two races. The first was a waiver maiden claiming at Laurel Park back in February, where she was entered for the $40k tag. Two starts after her maiden-breaking effort, she headed to Monmouth Park in May and won an allowance.
Bought for just $34k as a yearling, I Can Run has amassed total earnings of $187,320.
By Amber Joyce, Contributing Editor
Main photo: I Can Run runs away to win the Eleven North Handicap (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
