Running Away runs away with the Busanda (Susie Raisher)
Mary Eddy/NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stud TNT’s Kentucky homebred Running Away did just that in the stretch to make a successful stakes debut in Saturday’s $125,000 Busanda at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies awarded the top-five finishers with 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
Trained by Wesley Ward, the daughter of Gun Runner doubled up on victories after a last-out graduation at third asking in a 1 1/16-mile maiden at Churchill Downs in her first effort over the main track. The chestnut filly made her first two starts on turf, finishing on-the-board with a half-length second on debut in July at Saratoga Race Course and a neck third in October at Keeneland.
Ward said Running Away’s speed was useful over a track that frontrunners relished throughout the afternoon.
“We had a plan going in with this filly. She’s very quick in the mornings for being a big filly, and we were going to just take it really easy in the warmup and keep her nice and relaxed,” Ward explained. “Our plan was to have the jock come away from there holding first jump, and I changed my tactics after watching the races there all day. I told the jock, ‘look, everything I told you, just throw it out and ride her however you want. You know the track as good as anybody there today, so whatever you think best that’s what we’re going to do!’”
Ridden by Sahin Civaci, Running Away led every step of the way to victory after emerging sharply from the outermost post 6 and crossing over to the two-path to mark an opening quarter-mile in 22.83 seconds over the fast main track.
Sharp Smile held the rail position to track in second through the first turn, but was met with pressure from My Sherrona as the field made its way onto the backstretch and the Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Ruth was coaxed along from last after a stumble at the start. Civaci remained collected aboard Running Away as she reached the half-mile in 48.50 and three-quarters in 1:13.54 before Romero Maragh called upon My Sherrona to her outside and Manny Franco got to work atop Sharp Smile, who stumbled at the start.
Civaci shook the reins exiting the turn and Running Away maintained her advantage over the driving My Sherrona to her outside, keeping to task with a few right-handed taps of the crop as Sharp Smile gave chase in vain on the inside and Ramify put in a belated run. Running Away was never threatened in the final sixteenth and kept on strongly to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:52.23.
My Sherrona demonstrated her knack for finishing second for the third time in three lifetime outings, picking up place honors by one length over Sharp Smile. Ramify, Beautiful Blome and the hard-luck Ruth completed the order of finish. Carmen’s Candy Jar, who finished third in an optional claiming tilt yesterday at the Big A, Bless the Broken, who races in today’s Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course, and Bernieandtherose were scratched.
Ward said he was confident in Running Away throughout the latter stages.
“As soon as we fell into the turn and we had the lead and I saw her prick her ears, I knew that we were in really good shape,” Ward said. “The weather here in Kentucky has been compromised to train a route horse like this. It’s been a while since her last start and she wasn’t cranked as much as I’d like, but her ability got her there as well as the track played in our favor.”
The win marked the seventh this week at the Big A for Civaci, who also teamed up with Ward to win a state-bred optional claiming tilt aboard Whatchatalkinabout on Thursday. The top Woodbine-based jockey, who moved his tack to New York in late December, said Running Away was professional in victory.
“I had instructions from Wesley Ward to take the lead and looking at the form I saw the one [Sharp Smile] had speed, the seven [My Sherrona] had a little bit of speed, if they were going to send hard, I would have sat off of them, but luckily the one stumbled a little bit and I managed to get the lead,” Civaci said. “Just took care of it with easy fractions and she is a nice horse, she kicked on well.
“Coming into this New York meet, I had a lot of support,” Civaci added of his Empire State endeavors. “I rode for some good owners and trainers up in Canada, it carries forward to being here. It is a little different surface here, dirt, you get a lot of kickback here compared to the Tapeta. I managed to get used to that now, and just settling into New York generally, those were the only challenges pretty much.”
Ward said Running Away is likely to target the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Ashland on April 4 at Keeneland rather than the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle on April 5 at the Big A. Both events offer 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers.
“My home track is Keeneland and I try to run everything here. With the Ashland being around the same time [as the Gazelle], we’ll have a discussion with Goncalo Torrealba and his team and make a decision as we get closer,” Ward said.
Running Away became the fifth black type runner out of the Brazilian Group 3-placed Unbridled’s Song mare Allez Marie, who also produced stakes-winners Legalize and Workaholic, Grade 3-placed sire Tomato Bill, and dual stakes-placed Fouette. Her second dam is 2005 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks-winner Summerly. Running Away banked $68,750 in victory while returning $5.10 on a $2 win wager.
Romero Maragh, aboard the Ray Handal-trained My Sherrona, said the daughter of Not This Time was valiant in defeat.
“The winner kept going. She out broke us and cleared us, but that was the favorite, so I always wanted to keep her in our crosshairs, and apply a bit of pressure, but that horse just kept going,” Maragh said. “I’m proud of my filly. She is still a maiden, but every time she runs, she tries and keeps improving. She is getting more calm and relaxed. Ray and his team has done a tremendous job with her. Her attitude has gotten so much better, and she is just a nice race horse.”
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
