Reef Runner under Reylu Gutierrez. (Ryan Thompson)
New Gelding Captures 5F Turf Dash in First Race Since May 1
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s 4-year-old stakes-winning homebred Reef Runner, back as a new gelding in his first race since May 1, split horses turning for home and steadily gained ground through the lane to take the lead in deep stretch and register a decisive victory in Sunday’s $70,000 Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park.
It was the first win for Reef Runner ($8.20) since taking the Bob Umphrey Sprint on the all-weather Tapeta last fall and his third in 10 career tries on the Gulfstream turf, where he has never finished worse than third.
“Off the layoff, being gelded, it all helped,” winning trainer David Fawkes said. “If we could just get him to change his leads. He has, and hasn’t won, so I say to myself maybe he’s just better off. But I think the gelding really helped him more than anything.”
Jockey Reylu Gutierrez settled Reef Runner along the rail in fifth as El Apagon broke alertly from his inside post and took the field of nine through a quarter-mile in 21.52 seconds. And Uwish, upset winner of the 5 ½-furlong Successful Native overnight handicap on Tapeta July 6, gave closest chase with Louie the Sun King racing three wide in third.
“I liked that he dropped in and saved ground. It was a dream trip. It really helped that he didn’t get in any traffic. He’s a nice horse, but traffic beats you every time in these kinds of races,” Fawkes said. “He’s a cool horse and Reylu rode him perfect. No complaints. He’s a smart rider.”
Gutierrez gave Reef Runner his cue as horses rounded the far turn and still had some work to do after a half in 43.53 seconds, but grinded away under a steady drive to edge past And Uwish and El Apagon and win in 55.10 over a firm course.
“Our horse broke very well and pushed everybody’s hand,” Gutierrez said. “I tucked behind [And Uwish] and made a run at the end.”
And Uwish edged Abrir Caminos for second, followed by El Apagon, Louie the Sun King, El Principito, Rouki, Asher’s Edge and 2-1 favorite Extendo. Sultan the Great was scratched.
Bred in Florida, Reef Runner improved his overall record to five wins, four seconds and five thirds from 18 starts. He ran three times during the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, running third in the Janus and Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint and second by a nose in the Silks Run. The Lieblongs also campaigned his sire, The Big Beast, to a Grade 1 win in the 2014 King’s Bishop and Grade 1-placings in the 2015 A. G. Vanderbilt and Forego, all at Saratoga.
