Runaway Ghost wins comeback race in Sunland's Ft. Bliss
Making his first start since winning the Sunland Derby (G3) last March, Runaway Ghost
returned victorious Saturday at Sunland Park. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper colt ran
to his 3-5 favoritism in the $75,000 Ft. Bliss Stakes, completing six furlongs
in 1:08.44.
Runaway Ghost was working toward a start in the Kentucky Derby last April when he came out of a morning work at Sunland with a cannon bone fracture. The Joe Peacock homebred was rehabbed at Crystal Springs Farm in Tularosa, N.M., before returning to trainer Todd Fincher.
Though it had been more than 10 months since Runaway Ghost's last race, Fincher was confident the colt was sitting on a big performance.
Runaway Ghost proved him right as he put away the pacesetter, Secular Nation, to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Fincher was patient while bringing back Runaway Ghost. The colt returned to the work tab in late October at Zia Park and Fincher had to move a few breezes around due to rain and a drying out track.
Runaway Ghost moved back to Sunland in mid-December.
“We’ve taken it extremely slow with him,” he told HRN leading up to the Ft. Bliss. “We know the future is bright for him, and we just didn’t want to risk any new injuries.”
In the Ft. Bliss, Runaway Ghost broke sharp and was asked to rate by jockey Santiago Gonzalez. He settled in third in a strung out field as Secular Nation opened up the first quarter-mile in 21.88, clear by 3 1/2 lengths.
Runaway Ghost began to close the gap and Secular Nation was barely holding the lead as he ticked off a half-mile in 44.33. There was only a head between the two as the leader cut the corner into the stretch, but Runaway Ghost had more left in the tank and made the most of his return to the races.
The Ft. Bliss improved Runaway Ghost’s race record to 8:5-2-0 and marked his fourth stakes win. Once a $240,000 RNA at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale, he has now made $608,510 for Peacock.
Prior to the Sunland Derby, Runaway Ghost won the Riley Allison Stakes and finished second to Winchell Thoroughbreds' Reride in the Mine That Bird Derby. While in California with trainer Michael Machowsky at 2, Runaway Ghost broke his maiden at Santa Anita in the same race My Boy Jack made his first start and won the Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.