Reef Runner finishes strong in G1 Jaipur win to clinch return Breeders’ Cup engagement
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Florida-homebred Reef Runner – fresh off two strong performances in Middle East stakes – thrived in his return to native soil, overtaking defending race-winner Ag Bullet in the stretch from the outside and finishing strong for a half-length win in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.
The 43rd running of the Jaipur – a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on the Mellon turf course – saw Reef Runner win the first North American start of his 5-year-old campaign for trainer David Fawkes, securing a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 31 at Keeneland for his efforts.
Reef Runner, who ran fourth in last year’s Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, earned a return engagement thanks to a patient ride under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who kept the son of The Big Beast just off the pace in third position as John the Beer Man led the 10-horse field through splits of 21.19 seconds for the opening quarter mile with the half-mile in 43.13 over firm going.
In the stretch, Ortiz, Jr. found daylight to the outside and overtook John the Beerman and Ag Bullet, completing the course in 1:00.02. Off at 5-1, Reef Runner paid $12.48 on a $2 win wager.
Ag Bullet, the 6-year-old mare who defeated males to win last year’s Jaipur edition, nearly pulled off the repeat bid before settling for runner-up. Under a strong ride from Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the Richard Baltas trainee edged John the Beer Man by a neck, with New York-bred Twenty Six Black finishing fourth. My Boy Prince, the 3-1, favorite, ran fifth, and Litigation, Bold Journey, Governor Sam, Works for Me and Clock Tower completed the order of finish.
Reef Runner won his first career Grade 1, building on a strong 2025 campaign in which he captured the Grade 2 Eddie D in September at Santa Anita Park, and a gutsy effort in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap that saw him cross the wire a nose in front of Motorious, but disqualified and placed second for early interference.
Shipped overseas early this year, Reef Runner continued to find success, winning the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Racetrack before running fourth in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over good footing in March at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse. In his second career appearance at the Spa, and first since an eighth in the 2024 Listed Mahony, Reef Runner earned the victory to improve to 9-5-5 in 25 career starts and exceeded the $2 million earnings mark [$2.17 million].
“What do you say but, ‘Wow?’ He’s just a really neat horse,” Fawkes said. “Anything you ask him to do, he does. I was happy with him coming in. He was a little nervous in the paddock which I figured might have been first time back in the [United] States jitters, but I wasn’t too worried. Irad said that when he broke, the race was over. He was on the bridle and ready to roll.”
Fawkes credited Nick Esler’s work with Reef Runner when he was sent to his Ocala-based farm for three weeks after returning from Dubai. He also said he’s looking forward to seeing his charge get another opportunity for Breeders’ Cup glory.
“He [Esler] did a great job. He’s had this horse several times for me when he’s been on break,” Fawkes said. “We’re going to point to the Breeders’ Cup and hope for good weather, like this. We got so lucky. I’ve been sweating all week. I was watching the radar. It was spitting a little bit earlier, which was fine. I just didn’t want it to be like Dubai.”
Ortiz, Jr. won his fourth Jaipur, joining Cogburn [2024], and back-to-back wins for Disco Partner from 2017-18.
“That was great. When he broke sharp, I was really happy with that,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “He put me in a really good position. He always kicks at the end. He did it on his own. I never hit him. I was full of horse. I just showed the stick at him and he just did the rest. He’s a really nice horse, very consistent and straightforward. Five-and-a-half [furlongs] sometimes doesn’t always go his way, but the way he’s been doing lately, he’s amazing. He’s a strong sprinter. I worked hard to get the win at Saudi, but today I was a little more confident because I knew he would give me that kick, which he did really nicely. I never really squeezed him. He was beautiful. It was a beautiful ride. Definitely a Breeders’ Cup horse.”
Ag Bullet, the runner-up in last year’s Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint, has finished on the board in her last five starts, which have all come in graded stakes company.
“Perfect, we broke well, let the speed go, sat second, and I tried to save her for the end,” Velazquez said. “From the quarter-pole, she ran. The winner just ran a little bit better than her. She was very good. He [Baltas] had her ready today. That's for sure. It was just that the other horse ran a little bit better than us."
John the Beer Man, trained by Rob Atras, earned black type in his first career stakes try after winning three of his first five starts before moving up in class.
“I had a perfect trip,” said his jockey, Kendrick Carmouche. “I wish he had never taken a stutter step at the eighth pole. It took away from his running style a little, but he really engaged back right away. My horse ran a brilliant race. I have no complaints.”
Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker in Race 4 and the Grade 3. $200,00 Soaring Softly in Race 8. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.
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