That same rival, Hero’s Man, was on the engine again in the A Huevo, but the pace scenario was entirely different. This time, Hero’s Man, the 7-2 second choice, was taking pressure from 25-1 outsider Brother Corbin, while Muad’dib, under regular pilot Arnaldo Bocachica, bided his time in mid-flight.

By the time the leaders had covered the opening half-mile in a sharp 47.47 seconds, Muad’dib was nearly a dozen lengths away and in fourth. Moving up the backstretch and nearing the third turn, Bocachica and Muad’dib made their move, cruising between horses and up to Hero’s Man.

Brother Corbin fell away readily, while Hero’s Man resisted briefly before he, too, packed it in. Longshot Martin Man followed Muad’dib but never seemed a threat, while William and Mary briefly loomed before dropping away.

In the end, Muad’dib was 1 ¾-lengths clear of Martin Man, and it was a long way back to William and Mary in third. Running time for the nine furlongs on a fast main track was 1:54.87 — a tenth of a second faster than he’d run it on WVBC night.

Muad’dib paid $2.60 to win as the 3-10 favorite and topped an exacta, with the runner-up off at 46-1, that returned $14.10 for a dollar.

Muad’dib is trained by Jeff Runco for David Raim. He was bred in West Virginia by John McKee and is a full-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Late Night Pow Wow. Runco, a winner of more than 4,500 races in his career, has won 10 of the last 13 stakes contested at Charles Town.

Muad’dib Gallery