Page 162 - August 2019

Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1
RUNAWAY SECOND DOWN
by Michael Compton
It didn’t take long for Runaway Second Down to register a major stakes win, scoring the first stakes win of his young career in the $700,293
Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 at Delta Downs on July 6 in just his fourth lifetime start.
Ridden by Antonio Alberto, Runaway Second Down raced in fifth position early
in the 350-yard event. He put in a solid rally through the lane to record a head victory, stop- ping the clock in :17.349 for a 97 speed index while also providing his trainer Robi Meche with her first career stakes win.
Runaway Second Down entered the Lee Berwick as the 2nd-fastest qualifier after a 3/4-length win in his June 15 trial. Owned by Eulalio Argote and Victor Alvarado, Runaway Second Down was 3rd in his April 27 career debut and 8th in his second start before win- ning his Lee Berwick trial.
“We qualified for the Lee Berwick three years in a row and it means so much to us to finally win,” said Argote. “We owned his half- brother Second Down Leaving; paid $25,000 for him. His success was the reason we had to pay $80,000 for Runaway Second Down. We knew he had what it takes to win a major stakes.”
“The night we qualified,
I said we were going to shake the ground in the final,” said Alberto. “He was doing so well at the farm. I really felt every other horse would have to give 150 percent to beat him.”
With the win, Runaway Second Down has now captured 2 of 4 starts, and the $350,146 winner’s share upped his earnings to $358,666.
“It’s been a great experience,”
Meche said after saddling her first stakes winner. “I just got my license earlier this year in Shreveport and won the richest race of the Delta meet.”
Grant Farms LLC bred Runaway Second Down out of 2-time winner Second Down Perry, and sold him at the LQHBA Yearling Sale in 2018. Second Down Perry has produced 100% money earners from 6 starters, including 3-time stakes winner Second Down Leaving. Runaway Second Down becomes her 2nd stakes winner.
Ed O (Mr Piloto-Shezadashinatcha) was 2nd with Noe Villatoro up for owner Edwardo
Lopez & trainer Jose Lopez. Ed O broke his maiden in his 1st start on April 27 and then finished a close 2nd in his 2 starts prior to the Lee Berwick final. The $119,050 for finishing 2nd boosted his bank to $191,449. Jess
A Fast Rogue (Heza Fast Dash-Miss Jess Rogue) was 3rd under Cesar Esqueda
for owner Paragon Farms & trainer James Padgett II. The
$70,029 share of the purse for 3rd increased the colt’s earnings to $83,629. Jess A Fast Rogue was a $200,000 graduate of the LQHBA Sale last August.
Followed by Flash Of Light (Apollitical Blood-Crystal Sola), Apollitical Bug (Apollitical Blood-Tinys First Bug), RF Apolliticalcookie (Apollitical Blood-One Famous Cookie), A Quick Jewel (Jet Black Patriot-Lummis), Baby Freighttrain (Freighttrain B-Bay Ba Licious), Sir Runaway Cash (Sir Runaway Dash-MCM Premo Dash) & Piltoshinning (Mr Piloto-La Shining Streak).
Delta Downs $700,293 • 350 yards :17.349 • si 97
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
Runaway Wave
RUNAWAY SECOND DOWN, ‘17-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Second Down Perry
Royal Down Dash
160 SPEEDHORSE, August 2019
Runaway Second Down and Antonio Alberto win the $700,293 Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 at Delta Downs.
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Coady Photography