CT: Runco duo appears formidable in Leavitt Stakes
Ryan’s Run installed as 3-5 morning line favorite
The Biz
July 17, 2026
Ryan’s Run has aced his one-turn tests. Now comes the next step: trying to carry his dazzling speed over two turns.
The Jeff Runco-trained Ryan’s Run is the 3-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $75,000 Robert G. Leavitt Stakes for West Virginia-bred three-year-olds. And if he can navigate two turns with the same aplomb with which he’s managed one, you’d have to imagine he’ll go hunting bigger game in the not-so-distant future.
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Ryan’s Run, a sophomore Runhappy gelding bred and owned by Runco’s own Coleswood Farm, has won the first three starts of his career by a combined total of 17 ½ lengths. He earned a Beyer speed figure of 89 – tops in this field – in dominating the Coin Collector Stakes by over five lengths.
And last out he thrashed an allowance field that included older runners by nearly five lengths while stopping the timer in 50.92 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs. That’s among the fastest clockings ever for the distance at Charles Town; the track record of 50.09 was set by Immortal Eyes in 2011.
Ryan’s Run will leave from the five-hole in the seven-horse field and carry jockey Arnaldo Bocachica.
If Ryan’s Run falters, Runco still holds a strong hand. Penguin’s Pride, whom he trains for David Raim, is also undefeated at 2-for-2, and his wins have come by a combined total of 15 lengths. While his speed figures aren’t quite as gaudy as those of Ryan’s Run, he does own one advantage over that rival: he has already posted a victory going two turns.
That victory came in a June 19 allowance in a race that’s produced two next-out winners. With Bocachica getting off Penguin’s Pride to ride Ryan’s Run, Angel Cruz will have the mount. Penguin’s Pride is 5-1 on the morning line.
The Anthony Farrior-trained Coach Siggy is the 9-2 second choice on the morning line. The Stormy’s Majesty colt, owned by Richard Burnsworth, has won three of eight career starts while earning over $85,000.
Jeiron Barbosa will ride, as regular pilot JD Acosta remains aboard Farrior’s other entrant, Irish Jubalee (15-1). That runner, a four-time winner from 13 starts, has been first or second in all three of his seven-furlong tries.
Veteran trainer Tim Grams will send out Noble Ruling (8-1), the only other runner in single digits. The Code of Honor colt, a homebred for Grams and his wife Judy Grams, has four wins from 11 starts and saw a two-race win streak snapped last out when fifth in a 4 ½-furlong allowance. Larry Reynolds will ride.
Tricks R for Juba (12-1) and Ihaveanappforthat (20-1) round out the field.
The Leavitt is carded as the eighth race on a nine-race Saturday program. Post time is 7:00 p.m.
NOTES Charles Town has canceled its scheduled July 17 card because of the poor air quality in the region… One race prior to the Leavitt, an allowance for fillies and mares has attracted an intriguing field including last year’s WVBC Cavada winner Petty Perfect, WV Lottery winner Zip Start, and The Sky Is Falling, whose next payday will put her over a half-million dollars in earnings…
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