Reef Runner to Make Stateside Return in Jaipur

Reef Runner (The Big Beast), winner of the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh and fourth in the Mar. 28 G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, is expected to make his stateside return in the June 6 GI Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga. The 5-year-old gelding had his first work since returning from the Middle East Saturday, going four furlongs in :46.90 (1/19) over the Tapeta at Gulfstream.

“He looks fantastic,” said trainer David Fawkes. “I nominated him for the Jaipur. We're coming. He traveled unbelievable from Dubai. He got off the plane like I vanned him from Ocala to Miami. I gave him 3 1/2 weeks with Nick Esler in Ocala, who took great care of him for me. Nick called me and said, 'Dave, you need to bring him back to work. He's a wild man.'”

Fawkes will be hoping for sunshine and firm ground in June at Saratoga, which is something Reef Runner failed to find in his lone previous outing at the Spa when a troubled eighth in the Mahony Stakes over good ground in August 2024.

“We were at John Kimmel's yard, and it rained so hard his entire courtyard was flooded. I knew we were screwed,” Fawkes said. “This time, he should be very strong, as long as the weather is good. He doesn't like it soft.”