Run Away and Hide | Horse Racing Free Tips

In one of the most incredible riding feats in track history, jockey Alex Cruz rode the entire 5 ½ furlongs without irons and somehow emerged victorious aboard Akasi in Sunday's fourth race at Emerald Downs.

Cruz lost his irons leaving the gate, dropped over 15 lengths behind the field as Cruz tried in vain to get his feet back in the stirrups, raced extremely wide into the stretch, and somehow managed to rally past all four rivals for a three-quarter-length victory in 1:06.52 for 5 ½ furlongs.

Although Cruz was unable to get his feet in the irons, he maintained the wherewithal to urge Akasi through the stretch and win the race. Owned and bred by Jack Hodge's Oak Crest Farm and trained by David Martinez, Akasi paid $4.20 as the betting favorite

“At the start, she stumbled and ducked out, that's when I lost my irons,” Cruz said. “I tried to recover but it was so muddy and my boots were slipping. I was going to pull her up going into the turn, but when we started to gain some ground, we went on with it!”

A 2-year-old Run Away and Hide filly, Akasi had finished third in all three previous starts, including a runner-up effort in the Angie C Stakes.

A 28-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Cruz is vying for a second straight riding title at Emerald Downs. Cruz recorded four wins Sunday and is tied with Julien Couton for first with 73 wins apiece. Two days remain in the season–Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26.

In the winner's circle, Hodge marveled at Cruz' riding feat.

“I've always loved Alex Cruz because he always rides hard the whole race even if he's not going to win,” Hodge said. “Today he had every reason to pull my filly up after losing his irons, but he knows the filly and her closing style and chose to continue riding. Alex is a tremendous athlete.”

The post No Stirrups? No Problem For Jockey Alex Cruz In Emerald Downs Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale posted across-the-board gains on Sunday, topped off by a $46,000 filly by Run Away and Hide.

Twenty eight Minnesota-bred yearlings sold during this year's auction for revenues of $383,500, marking a 6.5 percent increase from the 2020 renewal, when 34 horses sold for $359,800.

The average sale price rose 40 percent to $13,696 from $9,724, while the median of $9,000 was a 125 percent improvement from last year's figure of $4,000. The buyback rate finished at 22 percent, compared with 33 percent the previous year.

The partnership of John Mentz, Jeff Larson, and Hugh Robertson secured the sale-topper, a $46,000 filly by Run Away and Hide named Checkcashingconnie.

Offered as Hip 32, Checkcashingconnie is out of stakes-winning Dazzling Falls mare Sheso Dazzling, who is the dam of two winners. Multiple Peruvian Group 1 winner Fletcher is in her extended family.

Bred in Minnesota, the filly was consigned by Mary and Eric Von Seggern, and Kurt and Melanie Kindschuh.

Dove Hill Farm was the auction's leading consignor, with four horses sold for a combined $80,000.

Leading the way among the Dove Hill horses was Hip 34, a Cinco Charlie gelding who sold to Barry Butzow for $35,000. The gelding, out of the Added Edge mare Smarty Prance, was consigned as agent for Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick.

Xtreme Racing Stables was the sale's top buyer, with three purchases totaling $105,000. A pair of $40,000 purchases led the way: Hip 10, a filly by Danza, and Hip 14, a Cupid filly named Cupids Crush.

To view the auction's full results, click here.

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