Runnin’toluvya Reigns in Charles Town Classic

CHARLES TOWN, WV – Runin’toluvya became a hometown hero when he won Saturday’s Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) at Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races. This was the first graded stakes win for the five-year-old West Virginia bred son of Fiber Sonde who extended his win streak to nine straight.

Diamond King broke well and shot straight to the front. The post-time favorite, Rally Cry, also broke well and sat just off of the leader. Runnin’toluvya quickly hurried to the front on the outside and matched Diamond King stride for stride as they headed down the stretch for the first time. The duo stayed neck and neck for most of the race and set honest fractions of :24.00, :48.25, and 1:12.45.

Into the backstretch, Rally Cry started to move up on the leaders and was joined by Nanoosh and Unbridled Juan, however, Diamon King and Runnin’toluvya couldn’t be caught and easily dispelled all potential challengers. The two dueled it out to the finish where Runnin’toluvya got the best of Diamond King by a half-length. War Cry got up well from mid-pack with a late run to finish third and Rally Cry cruised in to finish fourth.

“My horse when he had the lead in the stretch, he always gave me another gear,” said jockey Oscar Flores. “Whenever I asked, my horse just responded again. Every time I asked, he gave me more.”

REPLAY: Watch RUNNIN’TOLUVYA become the first West Virginia Bred to win the #CTClassic! Congratulations to connections on a historic moment for West Virginia Racing! #RaceWestVirginia

J: Oscar Flores
T: Timothy C. Grams
O: Grams Racing Stable LLC
Br: Leslie G. Cromer pic.twitter.com/ymC9w94sqr

— Race Charles Town (@RaceCharlesTown) April 20, 2019

Runnin’toluvya was bred in West Virginia by Leslie G. Cromer and is owned by Grams Racing Stable LLC. This was the first time a West Virginia bred horse has won the richest race in the state, the Charles Town Classic. With his win here today, Runnin’toluvya claimed his fifth stakes race and brought his career earnings to over $900,000.

“It just means so much to me to be able to represent the West Virginia program like this,” said trainer and owner Timothy Grams. “I really wanted him to represent us well and I think he did a lot better than that today.”

Runnin’toluvya returned $21.20 to win, $8.80 to place, and $5.80 to show. Diamond King brought back $5.60 to place and $3.60 to show, while War Story paid $4.80 to show.

Scratched: Bobby G. (stewards)