Windy Sands H.
( 8f ,)
WANNA RUNNER
(CH g,
116
lb) $53,514
El Corredor —Shebandowana , by
Mt. Magazine
B—Yvonne Schwabe,
ON.;
O—Michael E. Pegram;
T—Bob Baffert
Heatseeker (IRE)
(CH h,
115
lb) $17,838
Giant's Causeway —Rusty Back , by
Defensive Play
B—Richard F Barnes,
IRE.;
O—William Deburgh;
T—Robert J. Frankel
Plug Me In
(B g,
114
lb) $10,703
Hold for Gold —Karaoke Kid , by
Fast Play
B—Everest Stables Inc.,
KY.;
O—Everest Stables, Inc.;
T—Marcelo Polanco
Margins: 2¼, 2¼, 4¼. Others: Cimyla (IRE) 115($5,351) , Visa Parade (ARG) 119($1,784) , Al Arz (BRZ) 116 . Winning Jockey, Tyler Baze.
Wanna Runner reverted back to his winning ways and more than made up for his unplaced effort in the Aug. 19 Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) when he easily captured the Sept. 3 Windy Sands Handicap at Del Mar.
The son of El Corredor ended a six-race losing streak with his latest victory, which was his first since scoring back-to-back wins in last year’s WinStar Derby at Sunland Park and Walmac Lone Star Derby (gr. III) at Lone Star Park.
Bred in Ontario by Yvonne Schwabe, Wanna Runner was purchased for $80,000 by Mike Pegram in the name Morning Wood Farm at the 2004 Fasig Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent. The 4-year-old gelding has been conditioned by Bob Baffert for Pegram in all his starts.
Pegram, who owns a string of McDonald’s restaurants, has campaigned several grade I winners, including Silverbulletday, winner of the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and 1999 Kentucky Oaks; this year’s Santa Monica Handicap winner Pussycat Doll (a homebred), and her dam, Hookedonthefeelin. Pussycat Doll’s sire, Real Quiet, was also campaigned by Pegram and scored classic wins in the 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I).
Schwabe, who keeps most of her mares at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington, chose the mating of Wanna Runner’s winning dam Shebandowana and El Corredor, she said, because of the stallion’s “gorgeous” looks and quality. El Corredor ranked fifth on the 2006 second-crop sire list by progeny earnings, and third on this year’s third-crop sire list.
Schwabe owns the 200-acre Persley Den Farm near Acton, Ontario, where she keeps around 20 mares. The farm was started by her parents in the late 1960s.
Shebandowana’s most successful foal besides Wanna Runner is the $165,000-plus earning Gilded Time gelding Ju Ju Beast. The 15-year-old mare also has a juvenile Kafwain filly named Kafdowana and a yearling Chapel Royal filly, who will be sold at the Keeneland September sale by Hill ‘n’ Dale, agent.
Shebandowana delivered a full sister to Wanna Runner March 9 and is in foal to Roman Ruler.
Wanna Runner is a member of El Corredor’s first crop. The son of Mr. Greeley has sired other 2007 added-money winners Dominican (gr. I), Classic Neel, and Corredor Del Oro. El Corredor stood the 2007 season for $30,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale.—E.M.
