Runway Rosie Doesn't Give (Into) a 'Hoot' in Rare Treat

  By Francis LaBelle Jr. | February 23, 2008
 


Runway Rosie
 
photo by Brandon Benson  
   

Aqueduct’s inner dirt track is notorious for favoring speed horses, but no one apparently told that to Runway Rosie.

The 4-year-old daughter of Include won her third consecutive race Saturday afternoon, running down Wild Hoots in the lane and notching a head victory in the 36th running of the $81,075 Rare Treat Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile and an eighth.

Owned in part by Winning Move Stable – Winning Move’s Steve Sigler, was on hand along with his daughter, Jamie-Lynn, who portrayed Meadow Soprano in the hit television series “The Sopranos” – Runway Rosie got a perfect ride from jockey Rajiv Maragh, who kept her on the inside and just behind front-runners Wild Hoots and Aliysea.

Wild Hoots and the Brazilian-bred Aliysa went to the lead together, with Aliysa getting first quarter of a mile in :22.73 and the half in :47.02 on the fast track. Aliysa backed out, but Wild Hoots dug in.

Runway Rosie was right behind on the rail with favored Stage Luck to her outside as Wild Hoots got three-quarters in 1:12.19. But Stage Luck began to labor and Maragh moved Runway Rosie out for the drive. He had plenty of horse and she was comfortable winner in 1:48.83.

“At the top of the stretch, I put myself in position and let my horse run,” Maragh said. “She showed a lot of determination. The horse in front (Wild Hoots) never gave up; my horse just out-muscled her to the wire.”

Runway Rosie paid $10 on a $2 win ticket for the believers in the crowd of 2,953.

Sigler said that the Grade 3, $100,000 Next Move Handicap at nine furlongs may be a possible next start for Runway Rosie, who has now won five of 17 career starts.

“What heart that filly has; what heart!,” Sigler said “The only horse I was concerned about was the 6 (Wild Hoots). But I felt going into the race that we had the outstanding horse. People love to see that kind of guts and determination and it was in full display today.”

Certainly, his daughter was happy with the result.

“I just seem to be out here for all the big wins,” she said.

Stage Luck was third, followed by Homerette, Aliysa and Guidance.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler with jockey Rajiv Maragh