Liam in the Dust, a well-respected player in the 2-year-old filly division last year for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, returns to action in the March 1 $200,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The one-mile Busher, which awards Road to the Kentucky Oaks points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, appears to be an opportune spot for Liam in the Dust to pick up some much-needed Kentucky Oaks (G1) points before the first Friday in May. Following her runner-up finish in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) and third-place effort in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) the daughter of Liam's Map currently stands at 24th on the Oaks leaderboard with eight points.
Owned by Storyteller Racing and Michael Schroeck, Liam in the Dust received a short freshening following her fall campaign.
"We gave her three weeks of walking and a couple weeks of jogging before we got back breezing," Brisset said. "Even with the weather back home (in Kentucky), we were able to get a pretty good number of breezes in her. I'm not too worried coming back at a mile coming off the small layoff based on the fact she had plenty of races last year. She's pretty easygoing and she has run there already, so this feels like the right spot to come back and the right timing."
Luan Machado rides Liam in the Dust, who will exit from the 1 hole in the field of nine sophomore fillies.
A serious threat to Liam in the Dust could come from the Louis Linder Jr.-trained Volleyballprincess. Shipping in from Parx Racing, the daughter of Mo Town aired her rivals by 10 commanding lengths in the Feb. 1 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct. The North Carolina-bred stretches out beyond seven furlongs for the first time when she tackles the mile in Saturday's Busher.
Drexel Hill, third in the Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and eye-catching Aqueduct maiden special weight victress She's Fascinating also drew into the field.
Entries: Busher S.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 1, 2025, Race 7
- STK
- 1m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 3:47 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam in the Dust (KY) | Luan Machado | 118 | Rodolphe Brisset | - |
| 2 | Ramify (KY) | Javier Castellano | 118 | Chad C. Brown | - |
| 3 | Drexel Hill (KY) | Ben Curtis | 118 | D. Whitworth Beckman | - |
| 4 | Volleyballprincess (NC) | Eliseo Ruiz | 120 | Louis C. Linder, Jr. | - |
| 5 | Amarth (KY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 118 | Eddie Kenneally | - |
| 6 | Fortuna Mia (KY) | Eric Cancel | 118 | Linda Rice | - |
| 7 | Nilo's Rose (KY) | Sofia Vives | 118 | Robert N. Falcone, Jr. | - |
| 8 | She's Fascinating (KY) | Jose Lezcano | 118 | Anthony W. Dutrow | - |
| 9 | Sharp Smile (KY) | Manuel Franco | 118 | Brad H. Cox | - |
Runninsonofagun Ready to Shine in Tom Fool
With the absence of Maximus Meridius in the field, the hard-knocking Runninsonofagun has a chance to land the third graded stakes of his career in the $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes (G3).
Running for the colors of Karen Zimmerman, Runninsonofagun exits a game neck defeat to Maximus Meridius in the Toboggan Stakes Feb. 1, which earned the gelding a career-high Equibase Speed Figure of 110. The 6-year-old son of Gun Runner hasn't crossed the wire in first since taking the 2022 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, although he was awarded the victory in last year's Bold Ruler after being bothered late by My Buddy B.
Purchased for only $16,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, Runninsonofagun has earned well above his purchase price, boasting a bank account of $620,865 in 23 trips to the post.
Ruben Silvera is back on the gelding for trainer John Toscano Jr. in the six-furlong Tom Fool.
Among those facing the Aqueduct specialist include graded stakes winner Bold Journey, third in a Gulfstream Park allowance optional claimer last time out in his first start since a trip to the Middle East last year, and millionaire gelding Surveillance for trainer Linda Rice.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 1, 2025, Race 4Entries: Tom Fool S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Runninsonofagun (KY) Ruben Silvera 124 John T. Toscano, Jr. - 2 Top Gunner (KY) Manuel Franco 118 Brad H. Cox - 3 Full Moon Madness (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 118 Michelle Nevin - 4 Bold Journey (NY) Eric Cancel 118 William I. Mott - 5 Ridgewood Runner (KY) Luis R. Rivera, Jr. 118 Carlos F. Martin - 6 Surveillance (KY) Jose Lezcano 124 Linda Rice -
