The Runyon ($100.000 Purse)
AQU- For Three Year Olds Foaled In NY
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
March 14, 2021
It was a very close finish in the Runyon as the race lived up to its billing of being very wide open. In a three way photo for the win, it would be Patriot prevailing for Mo Mentum Farm, doing so with a come from behind effort that we have not seen a lot of over the last six weeks or so. It is the first win in the race for the trainer, and the second for jockey J Lezcano. Congratulations to them! The race was run in 1:22.09, a little slower than last years time, which was the first time this was a seven furlong race. Let’s follow the winner along the way, from gate to wire.
(¼ Mile- :23.30)- Patriot started in the middle group of horses as they broke out in their now all too familiar tiers. The trainer, Mo Mentum Farm, had his other horse, Ten Furlongs show the way with some pressure from Grimley’s Absolute Soul at the front. Patriot, would be 3-4 lengths off for now, running in the third lane down the backstretch.
(½ Mile- :46.43)- Remaining in the middle of the field, and running alongside Ginger Sand (The Sidley Stud), Patriot held his lane until the end of the backstretch portion, but started to show some interest in moving forward. He was up to sixth now, a position he had been all too familiar with in his last two races, and this time, he was determined to do a lot better. Ten Furlongs was still up front, with Absolute Soul second. Raunchy Bay (Estero Farms) and Defiantly (Night Rider Stables) were next, about two lengths off the leader.
(Top of stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Patriot gained a small amount of ground midway into the turn, but it would not be until the exit of it that he hit his best stride and looked like he would be a main player in this race. Not even Raunchy Bay’s drifting on exit of the turn to try and block would be a deterrent, and by the top of the stretch, Patriot was part of a group of four that were a half length from the lead. Of them, he seemed to have the most power in his stride.
(Finish- 1:22.09)- Patriot pulled up alongside Raunchy Bay for the lead, but once there his rival would not be an easy pass. These two battled it out, and while they did, some new players were emerging as Defiantly drew closer and Hard To Believe was making a great run for Night Mare Racing. Patriot and Raunchy Bay went at it pretty good all the way to the wire, side by side, and Defiantly lived up to his name. But it would be Patriot, in a four way photo over Raunchy Bay, Defiantly, and Hard To Believe. Ginger Sand, Neo, Round Them Up, Ten Furlongs, Absolution, Absolute Soul, and Fifty Cent round it out.
About The Winner- Patriot, trained by Mo Mentum Farm and ridden to victory by J Lezcano, is a three year old gelding by Brutal, and is out of Rip Cord. He was bred in New York by Aer Stables as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Mo Mentum in private sales for $125.000 in January 2021. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his second in nine starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $149.800.
Track: Fast
Time: :231 :462 1:094 1:22
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 6 – 10 Paid 39.50
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 10 – 1 Paid 1,195.90
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
