Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s millionaire Florida homebred Reef Runner will level to the $500,000 Jaipur (G1) June 6, Belmont Stakes Day, at Saratoga Race Course. The 5 1/2-furlong check for 3-year-olds and up presents a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in October at Keeneland.
Trained by David Fawkes, the 5-year-old son of The Big Beast returned to the work tab on Saturday at Gulfstream Park for the primary time since a profitable journey to the Middle East the place he captured the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia and was fourth within the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on March 28 at Meydan in Dubai.
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On Saturday, Reef Runner breezed a half-mile on the Tapeta in :46.90 working to the skin of Send Cash, a maiden winner, who’s entered on Friday at Gulfstream.
“He looks fantastic. I nominated him for the Jaipur. We’re coming,” Fawkes stated. “He traveled unbelievable from Dubai. He got off the plane like I vanned him from Ocala to Miami. I gave him 3 1/2-weeks with Nick Esler in Ocala, who took great care of him for me. Nick called me and said, ‘Dave, you need to bring him back to work. He’s a wild man.’
Reef Runner posted a record of 3-2-3 from 10 starts last year for purse earnings of $378,065 but really turned a corner after a freshening and being gelded ahead of an August return in the Warrior’s Pride Overnight.
“He came back to the track and looked like a different animal. I didn’t recognize him,” Fawkes stated.
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In the Warrior’s Pride Overnight touring 5 furlongs over agency Gulfstream turf, Reef Runner stalked from fifth place as El Apagon zipped by means of a half-mile in :43.53. Reylu Gutierrez tipped Reef Runner three-wide for the stretch run to take command inside the ultimate sixteenth and rating by one size in a remaining time of :55.10.
The successful effort earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, however the way in which he did it impressed Fawkes.
“When he won the little race here at Gulfstream, I knew we were going somewhere. I called Mr. Lieblong the minute he crossed the wire and said, ‘We’re going to California for the ‘Win and You’re In,’ ” Fawkes stated. “I told him that this was a different animal than the one I sent to the farm and gelded. That was a really good race in fast fractions. That’s where we could see he had a bright future.”
Reef Runner promptly shipped to Del Mar for the five-furlong Green Flash Handicap on August 30 which provided a berth within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. There, he exited submit 11-of-12 below Paco Lopez however came to visit quickly after the beginning into Queen Maxima with Motorious being pinched again and steadied within the course of. Reef Runner made a courageous run up the rail and crossed the wire first by a nostril over the closing Motorious, however a stewards’ inquiry noticed Reef Runner disqualified and positioned second.
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The gifted bay made amends subsequent out within the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Eddie D on September 27 at Santa Anita Park, rallying from last-of-8 to attain by a half-length over attainable Jaipur rival Yellow Card.
Reef Runner registered a career-best 100 Beyer within the Eddie D and adopted with a fourth-place end within the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar earlier than returning victoriously to Gulfstream in December to finish a productive marketing campaign within the five-furlong Janus (L) over agency footing.
Reef Runner, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, put collectively a sensational run within the 1351 Turf Sprint to finest the favored Lazzat by a neck, stopping the clock in 1:18.24 for six 3/4-furlongs with a more in-depth journey than regular over the great/agency course.
However, his final out run on the straight below William Buick within the six-furlong Al Quoz Sprint noticed Reef Runner in search of a lane to run in over the great going. He dove to the rail late on and surged to complete fourth to the victorious Native Approach whereas a neck again of third-place acquainted foe Lazzat.
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“Irad couldn’t have ridden him any better. That’s why he’s the leading rider in the nation. In Dubai, we were in the middle of a desert, and it rained for five day’s straight. One thing I don’t like about horse racing is sometimes it’s just too much luck,” Fawkes stated, with amusing. “The kid [Buick] said he was looking for a turn, but I think he was looking for a good spot to run. What they call good [going] and what we call good are two worlds apart.”
Fawkes will likely be hoping for sunshine and agency floor in June at Saratoga, which is one thing Reef Runner failed to search out in his lone earlier outing on the Spa when a troubled eighth within the Mahony (L) over good floor in August 2024.
“We were at John Kimmel’s yard, and it rained so hard his entire courtyard was flooded. I knew we were screwed,” Fawkes stated. “This time, he should be very strong as long as the weather is good. He doesn’t like it soft.”
Good climate and outcome would see the ultra-consistent Reef Runner [8-5-5 from 24 career starts, $1,902,580] surpass $2 million in profession earnings.
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“He’s a cool dude. He’s not a real big horse, but he’s easy on himself. He’s doing everything right so far,” stated Fawkes, who despatched out Sheer Drama to win the 2015 Personal Ensign (G1) on the Spa.
Reef Runner, a full-brother to stakes winner Big Paradise, is out of the successful Blame mare Paradise Bay – a half-sister to twin Grade 1-winning millionaire Paradise Woods. His third dam, Uforia, is a half-sister to a number of graded stakes winner Mr. Greeley, who ran a neck second to Desert Stormer within the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Belmont Park.
This story was initially revealed by Paulick Report on May 10, 2026, the place it first appeared within the News part. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.