Lone Star Derby
Michael Pegram's WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor) tracked in behind the early pacesetter in Saturday's $300,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) before easily taking over after and pulling off for the 5 1/4-length victory. With Victor Espinoza aboard, the Bob Baffert-trained sophomore finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 3/5 while paying out $3, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 1-2 favorite. When the gates opened, Rain on Monday (Pine Bluff) quickly moved up to take the lead through a quarter in :23 1/5 and a half in :47. Wanna Runner wasn't far back, and had pulled to the front along the inside by the time three-quarters had been reached in 1:11. From there, the chestnut gelding romped through a mile in 1:36 4/5 before crossing under the line much the best. "He looked like (Kentucky Derby [G1] winner) Barbaro (Dynaformer) coming down the stretch!" Baffert exclaimed. "I always thought he was a nice horse but he's getting better. We didn't really push him for the (Kentucky) Derby. I know what it takes to win the (Kentucky) Derby and we maybe could've taken him, but it's too hard on a horse." Wait in Line (Line in the Sand) rallied from third along the backstretch to take over second and finished in that spot as the 46-1 longshot, returning $19.60 and $5.40. Admiral's Arch (High Yield) was another 5 1/2 lengths back in third at 4-1 and gave back $2.40. The exotics were worth $45 (exacta) and $147.60 (1-5-3 trifecta), while Mr. Pursuit (General Royal), Rain on Monday and Red Raymond (Deputy Commander) finished the order under the wire.
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Out of the winning Shebandowana (Mt. Magazine), the Ontario-bred Wanna Runner
became his dam's first stakes winner when capturing the WinStar Derby prior to
Saturday's race. He also ran third in the San Rafael S. (G2) in mid-January and
now boasts a record of 8-4-0-1 with $566,950 in lifetime earnings. Wanna Runner
has an unnamed juvenile full brother as well as half-siblings, a Kafwain yearling
filly and a 2006 filly by Chapel Royal. The winner was purchased by his
connections for $80,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale.
Bred by Yvonne Schwabe, the sophomore is pointing to the
June 25 Queen's Plate S., the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, at
Woodbine.
"Mike (Pegram) has always wanted to go to the Queen's Plate and he's a gelding
so we're not trying to make a stallion here," Baffert said. "We're just having
fun with him. It's fun to go to different tracks. The Lone Star Derby's going to
be my springboard to the Canadian classics from now on."
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