After Del Mar DQ, Reef Runner bounces back with narrow victory. (Benoit Photo)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Four weeks after being disqualified from victory in the GIII Green Flash at Del Mar, Reef Runner crossed the wire first again Saturday at Santa Anita and this time was made the official winner of the Grade II, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Reef Runner (5-1), with replacement rider Armando Ayuso aboard, rallied from last in the final quarter mile to just edge Yellow Card (6-1) by a half-length. It was another three lengths back to Sorrento Sky (5-1) in third with longshot pacesetter Mucho Del Oro (25-1) completing the superfecta.
“Down the stretch is when I saw a hole open,” Ayuso said. “I kind of went outside a little bit and when I saw the chance, I shot to my left and my horse responded beautifully.”
Bred in Florida by owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Reef Runner is a 4-year-old gelding by The Big Beast. Trained by David Fawkes, he won in a time of 1:11.65 to earn his second stakes win and first at the graded level.
“He is a really neat horse, and he did everything perfect. He always does,” Fawkes said.
“I was getting a little nervous around the eighth pole, but he really dug in,” he added. “With a little moisture on the surface today, I was a little worried about that, but he came through for us.”
In the five-furlong Green Flash on Aug. 30, Reef Runner rallied to finish a nose in front of race favorite Motorious. However, stewards ruled that Reef Runner and jockey Paco Lopez came in shortly after the break and caused interference, warranting the disqualification.
Ayuso was named the rider on Reef Runner only hours before post time. Fawkes said Lopez spoke with Ayuso before the race.
“He obviously gave the right directions,” Fawkes said.
Reef Runner improved to 20: 6-5-5- with $502,405 in earnings. His only previous stakes win came 51 weeks ago in the 2024 Bob Umphrey Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Reef Runner paid $13.00, $5.00 and $3.20. Yellow Card, with Kazushi Kimura aboard paid $6.00 and $3.80. Sorrento Sky
Fractions for the race were 21.74, 44.03 and 1:05.75.
ARMANDO AYUSO, Winning Jockey: “Reef Runner did amazing today. I was following Hector (Berrios, Nesso’s Lastharrah) in the beginning and then I saw Umberto (Rispoli, Sorrento Sky), I got behind him to see what’s going on. Down the stretch is when I saw a hole open. I kind of went outside a little bit and when I saw the chance I shot to my left and my horse responded beautifully.”
DAVIS FAWKES, Winning Trainer: “He is a really neat horse, and he did everything perfect. He always does.
“I let Paco (Lopez talk to (Ayuso). He has won a lot of races on the horse and Paco is a good friend of mine. He obviously had the right instructions.
“I was getting a little nervous around the eighth pole, but he really dug in. With a little moisture on the surface today, I was a little worried about that, but he came through for us.”
