Runnin’toluvya takes lead in Top Midlantic-bred Poll
Las Setas, one of the top five three-year-olds. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
A 9-1 upset in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic — his first stakes try in graded company — enabled Runnin’toluvya to zoom to the head of the class and lead among older horses in the latest Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll, released today.
Meanwhile, among three-year-olds, the Ashland winner Out for a Spin maintained a narrow lead despite a disappointing effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. The sophomore poll saw only minimal change, primarily the addition of the New Jersey-bred Regally Irish, who checked in fifth.
Runnin’toluvya has compiled a gaudy record in his career — 12 wins from 16 starts — but virtually all of those wins, prior to April, had come against West Virginia-bred rivals at Charles Town Races. But on April 20, with regular pilot Oscar Flores in the irons, Runnin’toluvya bested second-betting choice Diamond King in a race-long battle to win by a half-length in 1:50.56 for 1 1/8 miles.
The win, Runnin’toluvya’s 12th in 16 starts, pushed his earnings to more than $900,000.
Runnin’toluvya was bred in West Virginia by former Charles Town jockey Leslie Cromer. He is by Fiber Sonde out of the Not for Love mare Lov’emnrun. Runnin’toluvya, a five-year-old gelding, is trained by Tim Grams for his and his wife Judy’s Grams Racing Stable LLC.
Also new to the poll of older horses is the Pennsylvania-bred steeplechaser Senior Senator, who snuck into fifth-place. Senior Senator is also the oldest horse in the poll, a nine-year-old Domestic Dispute gelding out of the Awesome Again mare Queen Kennelot. Senior Senator has taken both the Maryland Hunt Cup Timber Stakes and Grand National Timber Stakes in 2019. It was the second straight year that Senior Senator completed that prestigious double.
Senior Senator was bred by Charles C. D. McGill and is trained by Joe Davies for Irvin L. Crawford, II.
Only one newcomer appears on the three-year-old poll. That’s Regally Irish, the New Jersey-bred colt who scored a narrow win in the $100,000 Bridgetown Stakes at Aqueduct in mid-April and is entered in Sunday’s Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Regally Irish, fifth among sophomores, is a homebred for Isabelle de Tomaso and is trained by Graham Motion. He is by Regal Ransom and out of the Even the Score mare Irish Score.
Of the 10 horses in the two polls, three were bred in Pennsylvania, with two each bred in Maryland, West Virginia, and New Jersey. One was bred in Virginia. Of the group, six are males and four are females.
The monthly Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred is the only publication devoted to Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Racing Biz, an online publication, is the independent voice for mid-Atlantic racing and breeding.
The poll is conducted of media members and others involved in the Thoroughbred industry and restricted to horses that have run in 2019 and were bred in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Carolinas.
- Out for a Spin (VA) — 3yo filly by Hard Spun-My Mammy, by Came Home; bred in Virginia by William M. Backer Revocable Trust; trained by Dallas Stewart for Commonwealth Stable; won Grade 1 Ashland S. Last month: 1
- Alwaysmining (MD) — 3yo gelding by Stay Thirsty-What Will Be, by Anees; bred in Maryland by Avla Pitts; trained by Kelly Rubley for Runnymede Racing LLC; won $125,000 Federico Tesio S. $100,000 Miracle Wood S., $100,000 Private Terms S. Last month: 2
- Las Setas (MD) — 3y filly by Seville-Tanca, by Polish Numbers; bred in Maryland by Bob Manfuso and Katy Voss; trained by Katy Voss for herself, Manfuso, and Wayne Harrison; won $125,000 Weber City Miss S., $100,000 Wide Country S. Last month: 4
- Call Paul (PA) — 3yo colt by Friesan Fire-Avani Force, by Forestry; bred in Pennsylvania by Beatrice Patterson and Vicky Schowe; trained by Jason Servis for Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC, and Bruce Irom; 2019 accomplishments: Won G3 Swale Stakes, third in G3 Bay Shore S. Last month: 3
- Regally Irish (NJ) — 3yo colt by Regal Ransom-Irish Score, by Even the Score; bred in New Jersey by Isabelle de Tomaso; trained by Graham Motion for his breeder; 2019 accomplishments: won $100,000 Bridgetown S. Last month: NA
Also receiving votes: Our Braintrust, K P Slickem, Vic’s Pick
- Runnin’toluvya (WV) — 5yo gelding by Fiber Sonde-Lov’emnrun, by Not for Love; bred in West Virginia by Leslie G. Cromer; trained by Tim Grams for Grams Racing Stable LLC; 2019 accomplishments: won G2 Charles Town Classic, Russell Road Overnight Prep S. Last month: NA
- Prince Lucky (PA) — 4yo gelding by Corinthian-Lucky Notion, by Great Notion; bred in Pennsylvania by Daniel McConnell, Sr.; trained by Todd Pletcher for Daniel McConnell; won G2 Gulfstream Park Mile, G3 Hal’s Hope S. Last month: 1
- Late Night Pow Wow (WV) — 4yo filly by Fiber Sonde-Holy Pow Wow, by Indian Charlie; bred in West Virginia by John McKee; trained by Javier Contreras for Breeze Easy LLC; won G3 Barbara Fritchie S., $100,000 What A Summer S., 3rd G1 Madison. Last month: 2
- Valedictorian (NJ) — 5yo mare by Temple City-Smart N Classy, by Smart Strike; bred in New Jersey by John Bowers, Jr.; trained by Kelly Breen for Epic Racing; won G3 Suwanee River S., Sand Springs S., 2nd in G3 Honey Fox S., 3rd in G3 Marshua’s River S. Last month: 3
- Senior Senator (PA) — 9yo gelding by Domestic Dispute-Queen Kennelot, by Awesome Again; bred in Pennsylvania by Charles C. D. McGill; trained by Joseph Davies for Irvin L. Crawford, II; 2019 accomplishments: won Grand National Timber S., Maryland Hunt Cup Timber S. Last month: NA
Also receiving votes: Blamed, Laki, Another Broad, Anna’s Bandit, Midnightcharly
Participating Voters: Ted Black (freelance writer), Michael Campbell (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey), Joe Clancy (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Cindy Deubler (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Linda Dougherty (freelance), Debbie Easter (Virginia Thoroughbred Association), Paul Espinosa (Charles Town Races), Anne Frederick (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Rich Glazier (Delaware Park), Cricket Goodall (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Jim Hague (freelance), Nick Hahn (freelance), Carol Holden (West Virginia Breeders Classics), Tom LaMarra (The Blood-Horse), Jeff Nations (freelance), Kate Painter (West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association), Vinnie Perrone (freelance), Frank Petramalo (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), Gary Quill (The Racing Biz), David Richardson (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Brian Sanfratello (Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association), Sal Sinatra (Maryland Jockey Club), Chris Sobocinski (Delaware Park), Dan Tordjman (freelance), Frank Vespe (The Racing Biz), Bill Watson (freelance), Lydia Williams (freelance), Bobby Zen (freelance).
Note — Not all participating voters will vote in every poll.
