Run Time beats Bullards Alley by a head in H. Allen Jerkens
Run Time was the beneficiary of a perfectly timed ride from Tyler Gaffalione in Saturday’s $100,000 H Allen Jerkens to prevail over Grade 1 winner Bullard’s Alley by a head.
The two-mile turf racing that honors the memory of the beloved Hall of Fame trainer highlighted a program that included four other turf stakes – two $75,000 divisions of the Tropical Oaks, the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby and the $75,000 Via Borghese.
Gaffalione, victorious in his only previous mount aboard the Mike Maker trainee, knew the winning formula for Run Time.
“I rode this horse at Kentucky Downs going one mile and a half the day he broke his maiden, so it was basically like the same thing as today,” said Gaffalione, who had scored an off-the-pace victory aboard the 4-year-old son of Gio Ponti at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6. “Just let him fall back and relax and make one big run. Mike instructed me to just get him to relax, keep him happy and when it comes time, you know what to do.”
Gaffalione saved ground while rating his mount well off the a solid early pace set Infobedad, a Neil Drysdale-trained Southern California-based marathoner who ran the first mile over a firm turf course in 1:43.70 under Joel Rosario. Bullard’s Alley, the 6-5 favorite, stalked the pace while rating kindly for jockey Paco Lopez into the far turn the second time around.
Infinite Wisdom, the co-second 3-1 second choice with Gold Shield, moved inside the pacesetter to gain the lead on the turn into the homestretch under Jose Ortiz. Gold Shield made a strong outside move to loom as a danger in mid-stretch, only to be quickly collared by Bullards Alley. The favorite appeared to be on his way to victory when Run Time surged under Gaffalione on the far outside with a rally that would result in a narrow victory over the Grade 1 winner.
“It was super to save all that ground. Fortunately, we were good at the end,” Maker said.
Run Time, who was coming off a victory in a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance race at Gulfstream Dec. 6, ran the two miles in 3:23.97.
“The race set up perfect for me. My plan was to follow [Gold Shield] as he seemed to have a pretty tactical running line,” Gaffalione said. “My horse relaxed beautifully and when I asked him to run, he really kicked it in
Bullards Alley, who captured the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine in October, finished 2 ¼ lengths clear of Gold Shield.
“He ran well. At the end of the day it might have been too much to come off a short layoff and run two miles. That’s what cost him today,” said Bullards Alley’s trainer Tim Glyshaw, whose trainee ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 4 at Del Mar. “Mike’s horse was a little fresher. I have an opinion that if we run that race again after an out, he probably doesn’t catch us.”
Maker is pondering two Grade 3 options for Run Time’s next start.