SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The well-traveled Running Bee, returning to Saratoga for the first time since winning his maiden here two years ago, kept his local record unblemished with an impressive and popular, come-from-behind, 1 1/2-length victory over Taking Candy in Sunday’s Bernard Baruch Stakes.
The win was the fifth on the card for his rider, Irad Ortiz Jr.
Running Bee, a 5-year-old son of English Channel owned by Calumet Farm, has competed at seven different tracks since his maiden tally, capturing the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on June 15 before returning over the same course to finish sixth stretching out to a mile and three furlongs in the Grade 2 United Nations in his most recent start.
Running Bee is nominated to the $2 million Mint Millions next Saturday at Kentucky Downs, but trainer Chad Brown opted to take the more conservative route, keeping him at home to gain a little more seasoning while competing for a mere $150,000 purse in the Bernard Baruch.
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The red-hot Ortiz settled Running Bee in perfect striking position during the early stages of the Bernard Baruch, just off the pace set by Steady On and prompted by the slow-starting Taking Candy. Running Bee saved ground into the stretch, tipped out to launch his bid at the head of the lane before accelerating through midstretch to readily overtake Taking Candy to win going away.
Taking Candy broke awkwardly, recovered quickly to attend the early running, came three wide into the stretch, stuck his head in front a furlong out, but proved no match for the winner. It was another three-parts of a length back to Fort Washington, who rallied belatedly along the rail.
Beuys, last year’s winner Pioneering Spirit, a tiring Steady On and Rebel Red rounded out the order of finish.
Running Bee covered 1 1/16 miles over a firm course in 1:41.86 seconds and paid $5.80.
“He was nominated to a very lucrative race next week at Kentucky Downs, but it was only a mile, I think this horse really has a future, and I didn’t want to put him in an unknown situation in a big messy field over that course,” Brown explained. “And I’m really appreciative to Calumet Farm, Brad Kelley and his team to let me run him here instead.”
Brown was also quick to praise Ortiz for the trip he orchestrated to get Running Bee into the winner’s circle for the sixth time in 13 career starts.
“Irad has been razor sharp in his judgment the whole meet, and particularly today,” Brown said. “Both my two-turn races (Brown and Ortiz also won the second race with Opulent Restraint), he had beautiful position in the first turn, letting the horses go and using them just a touch to get good spots. I loved both moves. They were almost identical trips and both horses really responded.”
Brown admitted to having a few anxious moments as the field settled into the stretch.
“I was cutting him way back, so I wasn’t sure if I took away his kick, but he really got it together late in the stretch and finished the race off nicely. This was his best race to date for sure,” Brown said. “These English Channel horses really get it together as they get older and I really have high hopes for this horse.”
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