Wanna Runner scores in WinStar Derby; Sweet Fourty takes
Oaks
Michael Pegram’s WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor) fulfilled bettors’ expectations on
Saturday as the sophomore gelding dominated his opponents as the 4-5 favorite in the $600,000
WinStar Derby at Sunland Park.
Sky Diving (Aptitude) broke to the early lead, traveling a quarter-mile in
:22 3/5, but soon gave that position up as Blaze It (What a Spell) took over,
covering four furlongs in :45 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:10 before
yielding to the eventual winner at the top of the stretch. Wanna Runner drew off to a 4
3/4-length score and completed 1 1/8 miles over the fast track in 1:48
4/5 under Victor Espinoza.
The Bob Baffert trainee gave back $3.80, $3 and $2.20, while Sky Diving returned $5.20 and $3.80 for the place at 6-1. Belligerence
(Robyn Dancer), who was coupled with Wait in Line (Line in the Sand), advanced
three wide around the final turn and advanced willingly to get up for third,
paying $2.80 at nearly 6-1. Exotics returned $10.60 ($1 exacta), $74.20 ($2 trifecta) and $153.40 for the 5-2-1-3, $2 superfecta.
Wait in Line, Keagan (Basket Weave), Might Be Hooked (Mighty), Blaze It,
Doctor Decherd (Louis Quatorze) and Welfare Cadillac (Successful Appeal) rounded
out the order of finish.
Wanna Runner finished a solid third to Brother Derek (Benchmark) in the San
Rafael S. (G2) to begin his three-year-old season and entered Saturday’s race off a fifth in the
El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Bay Meadows. This victory improves his record to
7-3-0-1 and added $300,000 to his bankroll here, which now totals $381,950.
Bred in Ontario by Yvonne Schwabe, Wanna Runner is out of the winning Shebandowana (Mt. Magazine), whose latest foals include an unnamed
yearling filly by Kafwain and a 2006 filly by Chapel Royal. Wanna Runner was
purchased for $80,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale.
In the race prior to the Derby, Michael House’s SWEET FOURTY (Sweetsouthernsaint)
got up to narrowly capture the $250,000
WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks under Espinoza. Legally Wild (Wild Deputy) set early fractions of :22
4/5 and :47 1/5 before relinquishing command to Princess Patricia, who led
through six furlongs in 1:12 and a mile in 1:37 1/5. Sweet Fourty, who rated in
third early, bid three wide
coming in the lane, passed Princess Patricia in late stretch, and just held off the rallying Well Hidden (More
Than Ready). She stopped
the timer in 1:43 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles.
Leaving the gate as the 3-5 favorite, the Jeff Mullins-trained dark bay
returned $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10 for her efforts. Well Hidden split rivals on the
turn for home and closed well to grab second over the tiring Princess Patricia, returning $2.80 and $2.20 at 3-1. Princess Patricia gave back
$2.60 at 7-2. Starzaflame (Comet Shine), Legally Wild (Wild Deputy) and Visual
Effect (Anees) completed the order of finish.
With this victory, Sweet Fourty increases her earnings to $209,000 with a
7-3-1-0 line. Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud Farms and Three G Stables, the
sophomore miss is out of the stakes-placed winner Majestic Fourty (Majestic
Venture), who has most recently produced a two-year-old colt and 2006 filly,
both by Sweetsouthernsaint. Sweet Fourty was purchased last year at the OBS April
Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $10,000.