Following a busy summer and fall campaign on the West Coast, which included his first graded-stakes win and a Breeders’ Cup appearance, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Reef Runner returns to his home track. The Florida-bred gelding is set to challenge familiar rival Coppola in Saturday’s $125,000 Janus at Gulfstream Park.
The ninth running of the Janus for 3-year-olds and up will cover five furlongs on the turf and opens an 11-race Pegasus Preview Day program. The card includes five stakes races, two graded, with total purses of $750,000, beginning at 12:20 p.m.
A 4-year-old Florida homebred by Grade 1 winner The Big Beast, Reef Runner has placed third or better in 16 of 21 career starts, earning $552,405. He has never finished off the board in 10 Gulfstream turf outings, winning three, including the five-furlong Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap on August 3.
After that victory, Reef Runner traveled to Southern California to train under John Sadler, with former jockey Juan Leyva overseeing his care ahead of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. He initially crossed the line first in the Aug. 30 Green Flash Handicap (G3), a Turf Sprint qualifier, but was demoted to second for minor interference shortly after the start.
Back under Gulfstream-based trainer David Fawkes, Reef Runner captured the 6 ½-furlong Eddie Read (G3) at Santa Anita on September 27 by a determined half-length. He then returned to Del Mar for the Turf Sprint, finishing fourth of 12, four lengths behind the front-running Shisospicy.
“It looked bad, but I don’t think it was too much interference on his part,” Lieblong said of the Green Flash. “He came back in the Eddie Read and won. In the Breeders’ Cup, when the other horse went to the front, he performed admirably. He did not embarrass himself.”
Fawkes highlighted Reef Runner’s adjustment out west and how Leyva’s care brought out the horse’s best qualities. “Juan Leyva and the team did a phenomenal job. Every time I saw him, he shone like a new penny. He returned in excellent shape and has been thriving,” Fawkes said.
Reef Runner has faced challenges against Coppola before. Last year’s Janus saw him rally from last after hitting the gate to finish third, 2 ¾ lengths behind. On January 25 at Gulfstream, he again finished third, narrowing the margin to one length despite early trouble.
“We’re delighted to have him back and in great form,” Lieblong said. “We’re looking forward to the race.”
Since returning from California, Reef Runner has breezed three times at Gulfstream, twice on the Tapeta surface, most recently covering a half-mile in 48.43 seconds on December 14. Tyler Gaffalione, a three-time Janus winner and Breeders’ Cup rider, is aboard from Post 8 in the nine-horse field.
“He’s such a remarkable horse,” Fawkes said. “Just like having a Jack Russell in the barn. He’s a character, handsome, and a lot of fun.”
Hammer Time Stable and Sport of Kings Racing Partners’ Coppola is the 9-5 morning-line favorite, boasting 11 wins from 34 starts and just shy of $1 million in earnings. He last ran on August 3, finishing second in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint, after a front-running win in the William Garrett Handicap. Trainer Dale Romans, juggling barn duties with a U.S. Senate campaign, confirmed Coppola is ready.
“This race has treated him well. He enjoys five-eighths and Gulfstream, so we wanted him prepared,” Romans said. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from Post 5.
Other entrants include Reef Runner’s stablemate Asher’s Edge (Post 1, 30-1), Full Disclosure (Post 2, 20-1), Spiced Up (Post 3, 8-1), 15-time winner Boat’s a Rockin (Post 4, 20-1), multiple stakes winner Whenigettoheaven (Post 6, 10-1), Litigation (Post 7, 4-1), and July 6 Successful Native overnight handicap winner And Uwish (Post 9, 12-1).
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