ARCADIA, Calif. - The third jockey named to ride Reef Runner turned out to be the winning jockey on the gelding in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
The victory is likely to lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for Reef Runner, who won his first graded stakes in the $201,500 Eddie D Stakes.
Armando Ayuso rode Reef Runner, but gained the mount only in the hours before the race.
Paco Lopez was named to ride when entries were taken last Monday, but was given a six-month suspension a few days later by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for repeated whip violations and was deemed ineligible to ride in any races.
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Antonio Fresu was named as the replacement rider on Saturday, but he was eliminated from consideration a few hours later when it was realized that he could not take the mount while under a routine suspension for causing interference. Fresu is allowed to ride designated races, or graded stakes, this weekend while under suspension, but must be named in such races at time of entry, according to California Horse Racing Board rules.
All of that led Lopez to recommend Ayuso to trainer David Fawkes. Ayuso climbed aboard the 4-year-old Reef Runner for the first time in the paddock.
They teamed together like old friends, and in the process gave Ayuso, 31, his first win in a Grade 2.
Closing from last of eight, Reef Runner ($13) won by a half-length over 6-1 Yellow Card, who led by a half-length with a furlong remaining.
Ayuso said Reef Runner was comfortable racing from off the pace.
“I was so happy to be riding,” Ayuso said. “I had a perfect trip, too. I had the hole open and I followed Yellow Card.”
Reef Runner ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:11.65.
Yellow Card finished three lengths clear of 5-1 Sorrento Sky. Mucho Del Oro, who set an early pace of 21.74 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.03 for a half-mile, faded to finish fourth.
Nesso’s Lasthurrah finished fifth, followed by Beyond Brilliant, First Peace and Kale’s Angel.
Reef Runner, who is by the Yes It’s True stallion The Big Beast, has won 6 of 20 starts and earned $502,405.
Even before the situation surrounding the riders, Reef Runner was in the midst of an eventful trip to California in recent weeks. He finished first in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 30, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference shortly after the start of the five-furlong race. The demotion cost Reef Runner a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf Sprint.
Reef Runner races for the Florida-based Fawkes and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway, Ark. Alex Lieblong is the chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission.
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