Rutledge Farm in Virginia is back in the racing business—in fact, it never left.
More than 50 Rutledge horses were dispersed last year after the death of longtime Thoroughbred breeder Hermen Greenberg. The farm, however, remained in the family, and Greenberg’s son, Aleco Bravo-Greenberg, ultimately decided to stay in the horse business.
Bravo-Greenberg was on hand April 16 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races not only to watch the $1 million Charles Town Classic (gr. III), which Greenberg-bred Researcher won the previous two years, but to watch one of five horses the family decided to keep.
As it turned out, Redman's Hatch, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Leroidesanimaux out of the Sky Classic mare Rutledge Dancer, won for the first time in four starts in a $26,000 maiden special weight event for Jeff Runco, who trained Researcher for Greenberg before the gelding was sold privately to Kinross Corp.
Ridden by apprentice Antonio Lopez, Redman’s Catch, with blinkers on, relished the sloppy track in his off-the-pace victory. The colt is owned by Rutledge Farm in the name of Monica Greenberg, Bravo-Greenberg’s mother.
“He’s one of the five horses we bought from the estate,” said Bravo-Greenberg, the managing partner. “My mom is my partner in the horses. No way in heck was I going to get out of the business.
“(Redman’s Catch) is bred to be a grass runner, but sometimes grass horses like wet tracks. So the tradition continues. I’m sure my father is looking down.”
Rutledge Farm has now been represented with a winner as owner or breeder on all three Charles Town Classic programs dating back to 2009. Hermen Greenberg was on hand in 2009 when Virginia homebred Researcher won the inaugural Classic.
Researcher was on the also-eligible list for this year's Classic, first preference for which falls to graded-stakes winners in the past two years. The first two editions weren't graded.