Zip Start rallies to Cavada upset
Wicked pace spoils Overnight Pow Wow’s farewell
Frank Vespe
October 11, 2026
“You never know around here,” trainer Jeff Runco shrugged following the running of Saturday’s $125,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders Classic.
He could afford to be a little bit flippant: his trainee Zip Start had rallied from far back to prevail, securing her second consecutive WVBC triumph – she won last year’s WV Lottery for three-year-old fillies – along with her first win of the season.
Zip Start, owned by Runco’s own Coleswood Farm Inc. in partnership with David Raim, now has six wins from 17 career outings to go along with earnings of $272,786.
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The win was yet another demonstration – as if more were needed – of how well Runco’s operation prepares for the big nights. He won two on the evening to improve his all-time mark to 44 WVBC triumphs, nine more than any other trainer.
It also showed the benefit of being a little bit light on your feet. After an 0-for-6 start to the year, Runco had planned to run Zip Start, a daughter of Upstart, in the nine-furlong WVBC Roger Ramey Distaff.
“I had her slated for the Distaff all week,” Runco explained. “On the last day, the last day when [Juba’s Parade] went to the to the Distaff instead of here, I switched.”
That proved a wise decision. It doesn’t always work this way, but this time, the lively pace that the past performances suggested actually materialized, as the Anthony Farrior-trained longshot Mitoleisdynamite rocketed out of the gate to push Overnight Pow Wow, the odds-on choice and a habitual front runner.
Overnight Pow Wow, the 2024 Cavada champ, had suffered through a disappointing 2025 season but bounced back this year with a stellar five-win campaign. Tonight’s Cavada, owner-trainer Cynthia McKee said earlier this week, was to be the mare’s racing swan song.
But with Mitoleisdynamite getting encouragement almost from the jump from jockey Wesley Ho, she and Overnight Pow Wow steamed through an opening quarter-mile in a sharp 22.73 seconds, with Overnight Pow Wow a half-length to the good, while Mitoleisdynamite was 2 ½ lengths clear of the rest.
The pace slackened a bit in the second quarter as Mitoleisdynamite waved the white flag – her job was to soften up the favorite for Farrior’s sophomore star, Edy’s Flame. After a half-mile in 47.08 seconds, Zip Start was in seventh and nearly five lengths off the pace.
“I could tell they were going a pretty good pace up front. I just let my filly save ground and get into position on the first turn,” said winning rider Arnaldo Bocachica. “The last time that other filly [Overnight Pow Wow] set a slow pace and my filly could not get to her. Tonight they were going pretty good so when we started to move on the far turn I knew we had a big chance.”
Bocachica angled his horse outside in the lane, and they rallied past Edy’s Flame, who took over the top spot nearing the furlong grounds, and went on to win by three lengths. Edy’s Flame held second, a neck better than 2025 Cavada champ Petty Perfect, who encountered traffic trouble on the far turn before rallying. Running time for the seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:26.55.
Overnight Pow Wow finished fourth as the 2-5 favorite, trigging robust show payouts. Zip Start paid $11.00 to win and $10.60 to show, while Edy’s Flame paid $40.60 to show. The exacta returned $44.10 for a buck.
“I knew we were going to be far back tonight, so just let her settle and save some ground,” Runco said. Just like he drew it up.
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