Trainer Jeff Runco will be looking to win the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic for the ninth time Saturday night when he saddles past winners Runaldo and Muad’dib in the $300,000 race at Charles Town.
The Classic is the richest of 10 stakes on the annual West Virginia Breeders’ Classics card. The races are restricted to horses bred in the state, and the card is a focal point for Runco’s operation. He has entered 14 horses across nine of the stakes, with some runners out of the five broodmares he keeps at his nearby Coleswood Farm.
“We do normal day-to-day racing all the time, but this is the stuff we work all year for,” Runco said. “So a lot of preparation, especially when you have this many horses running. We put a lot of work into it and, hopefully, we get lucky and it pays off.”
Runco first won the Classic in 1994 with E. B. F. Express. He has won the last four runnings of the 1 1/8-mile fixture, with Runaldo taking the Classic last year and Muad’dib winning in 2021 and 2022. He won the 2023 renewal with Coastal Mission.
This year, Runaldo and Muad’dib will face a formidable new foe in Teachintherelease, who has won his last three races.
Runaldo will start from post 10 and enters off a neck win in a Sept. 12 allowance going seven furlongs at Charles Town. The race was around two turns, and he will be moving to three for the Classic.
“He’s ready for the stretch-out,” Runco said. “He likes this distance. I look for him to run well. He’s ready to go.”
Arnaldo Bocachica has the mount on Runaldo, who races for Huntertown Farm.
Muad’dib will start from post 7 for David M. Raim. The millionaire, now 8, is looking for his 18th career win.
“He’s getting a little age on him,” said Runco. “He still gives his all. As long as he’s trying and happy, we’ll continue to race him. When it becomes a little too much for him, we’ll find him a new career.”
Muad’dib long has been a barn favorite.
“He’s a big old ham,” said Runco.
Teachintherelease has won his last three races on the front end and again figures to be prominent when he starts from post 8. He owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 83.
Cavada
Runco will saddle The Sky is Falling and Navy Band in the $125,000 Cavada, a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares that drew a field of nine.
The Sky is Falling has won her last three starts, all at the distance she travels Saturday.
“She got some time off and now she’s got her groove back,” Runco said. “She’s been training super. She likes this distance or a little bit further, but she’s a one-run mare. She’ll settle back and make a move, and hopefully she’s got enough time to get there.”
Bocachica has the mount from post 7 for Raim.
Navy Band will start from post 8. She’s looking for her third straight win and is a homebred for Runco.
“She’s quick out of the gate,” Runco said. “She’ll be forwardly placed.”
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Triple Crown Nutrition
Runco homebred Orange Canyon will face unbeaten stakes winner C’Mon Eileen in the $75,000 Triple Crown Nutrition. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies will be run around two turns.
Orange Canyon was a 4 3/4-length maiden special weight winner at the distance in her last start on Sept. 4 at Charles Town.
“She’s a Vekoma, so she’s pretty nice,” Runco said. “It’s a competitive race. She’s going into her race well and I expect her to run well.”
Orange Canyon ran in the slop last out, but Runco looks for the surface to be fast Saturday.
“It’s supposed to be good weather all week,” he said.
C’Mon Eileen was a 9 3/4-length debut winner at Colonial Downs before the stakes win at Charles Town. She will be making her two-turn debut for trainer Brittany Russell.
Vincent Moscarelli Memorial
The $75,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial is for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs. Runco will saddle Gurney Halleck for Raim. The son of Practical Joke comes off a stakes win at 4 1/2 furlongs at Charles Town.
“He broke his maiden in the stakes a few weeks ago,” Runco said. “We liked him enough to put him in a stakes before he even broke his maiden. So, we like him a lot. He’s a nice colt and he’ll like the stretch-out.”
Bocachica has the mount from post 4.
West Virginia Lottery
Zip Start returns to the statebred ranks for the $75,000 West Virginia Lottery, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. A daughter of Upstart who is 4 for 8, she last ran in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks, finishing an uncharacteristic seventh after having dominated a stakes for West Virginia-breds.
“She’ll definitely like this company better than the last race,” Runco said. “She got off bad last time. She should run well. She’ll be up close.”
Bocachica has the mount from post 5 in the field of six.
Dash for Cash
Duncan Idaho will be looking for his sixth straight win when he starts in the $75,000 Dash for Cash. The race for 3-year-olds and up will be run over 4 1/2 furlongs.
Duncan Idaho has won all five of his starts this year, with his last two wins coming in stakes. He will break from post 3 under Bocachica.
“He’ll be forwardly placed,” said Runco. “He’s just a hard-knocking gelding. He tries hard. He likes four and a half, and that’s what he’s been good at.”
Duncan Idaho is a full brother to both Muad’dib and Late Night Pow Wow, a multiple Grade 3 winner who earned more than $700,000.
Runco also will saddle the popular Penguin Power.
Russell Road
The $75,000 Russell Road for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs drew Runco trainees Spotafreeone, Flyin Mayan and Annapolis Road. Spotafreeone will be looking for his fifth straight win.
“He’s on top of his game right now,” said Runco.
Bocachica has the mount from post 3.
“He’ll be a little off the pace,” said Runco.
◗ In the $75,000 Roger Ramey for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, Runco will saddle Impressionism. The $75,000 Orange Juice drew Runco trainee Social Choice. The card closes out with the $75,000 Blue and Gold Breeders’ Classic.
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