Lightnin Runner ran to her name in her career debut, winning a maiden special weight event at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on Saturday and became the first winner for Florida-based stallion Battalion Runner.
Ridden by Antonio Lopez, Lightnin Runner broke alertly in the 4 ½-furlong race and dueled for the early lead down the backstretch. She surged clear in deep stretch to score comfortably by one length. The bay filly was produced from the winning Mineshaft mare My Lightnin Strike. Bred in West Virginia by Ronney and Nicole Brown, Lightnin Runner is campaigned by George Nyren and is trained by Angel Rodriguez.
Battalion Runner, a Grade 2-placed son of Unbridled's Song, finished a clear second to Irish War Cry in the 2017 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, defeating subsequent Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Cloud Computing. He also finished third in the Dwyer Stakes (G3), missing second by just a neck.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Battalion Runner won a maiden special weight by a dominating 8 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream in his second start at two and then captured his 3-year-old bow and two-turn debut going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream.
A $700,000 Keeneland September yearling, Battalion Runner is out of the Tapit mare Tamboz, a full sister to Tapizar from the deep female family of Grade 1 winners Olympio, Untapable, Cuvee, and Paddy O Prado.
Battalion Runner stands at Ocala Stud.
The post Lightnin Runner First Winner For Florida Stallion Battalion Runner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
