Runaway Ghost's 'true gauge' to be determined in Stephen Foster

Last year, the connections of Runaway Ghost gave their colt a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, and he did so before coming up with an injury. Now as an older horse, the Breeders’ Cup is a consideration for the New Mexico-based runner.

“We don’t know if he’s that quality or not, but we’re definitely going to give him an opportunity,” said trainer Todd Fincher, who's pointing the Joe Peacock homebred to Churchill Downs’ Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster for his next start.

The June 15 race at 1 1/8 miles offers a “Win and You’re In” spot to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is expected to include, among others, Grade 1 winners Yoshida and Seeking the Soul.

“We don’t know where his true gauge is,” Fincher said. “That’s part of why we’re going over there — to see where he fits.”

The trainer had hoped to find that out in Keeneland’s April 6 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) going seven furlongs. It marked Runaway Ghost’s first start outside of New Mexico since his juvenile season.

“Everything went bad,” Fincher said. “He broke a little slow, and then the rider put him behind horses. He ate a ton of dirt. While he was doing that, he was trying to run off with him — ran up and clipped heels twice.”

Runaway Ghost finished last of 12. When the 4-year-old by Ghostzapper returned to the barn, he couldn’t open one of his eyes it was so clogged with dirt.

“No damage was done to the eye, so that was a good thing,” Fincher said. “But it was just horrific.”

On May 4 back at his favorite racetrack, Runaway Ghost won the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Park handicap by an easy 5 1/4 lengths over Lookin At Lee, the longshot 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up.

Given that rebound, Fincher’s convinced the Commonwealth isn’t a true measure of Runaway Ghost’s talent.

“Not even close,” he said. “It’s just a complete throwout race.”

Corey Lanerie rode in the Commonwealth. A jockey has not yet been assigned for the Stephen Foster.

Since returning from injury in February, Runaway Ghost is 3-for-4, with each of those victories at Sunland Park. Going back to his 2-year-old season, he broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park, won a minor stakes at Golden Gate Fields and dueled on the lead before fading in a compact but classy edition of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) won by McKinzie.

At 3, the colt won the Sunland Derby (G3) to reignite Derby dreams once held by Mine That Bird before he got hurt.

Runaway Ghost is expected to work up to the Stephen Foster at Ruidoso Downs and ship in the week of the race.

“I know it’ll be tough, but I think we’ll get a little bit more honest evaluation of him in the Stephen Foster when we get distance,” Fincher said. “He can lay up close to the lead and won’t have to be in so much traffic.”