Running Away Much the Best in Busanda Stakes

Running Away did just that in the $125,000 Busanda Stakes, capturing her stakes debut in gate-to-wire fashion Jan. 18 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Stud TNT's homebred Running Away was well respected at the windows in New York after romping by five lengths in her maiden victory at Churchill Downs in November. With Kentucky racing solely on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park during the winter, the Gun Runner filly took her show on the road to secure points for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Favored at 3-2, Running Away broke on top from the outer 9 hole and quickly crossed over to the inside. Exerting just enough to snare the lead, the Wesley Ward trainee set a moderate tempo of :23.83, :48.50, and 1:13.54 under jockey Sahin Civaci. Last-out winner Sharp Smile chased Running Away early to the inside in third but couldn't keep pace with the leader as the field turned for home, and My Sherrona, in second for most of the race, challenged from the outside. Running Away leveled down in the final sixteenth and turned away My Sherrona's late bid, streaking under the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front. "As soon as we fell into the turn and we had the lead and I saw her prick her ears, I knew that we were in really good shape," Ward said. "It's been a while since her last start and she wasn't cranked as much as I'd like, but her ability got her there as well as the track played in our favor." Collecting 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Running Away ($5.10) completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.23 on a fast main track. Runner-up My Sherrona and third-place finisher Sharp Smile received 10 and 6 Oaks points, respectively.