Riding principally in California during his Hall of Fame career, jockey Victor Espinoza has been an infrequent visitor to Monmouth Park. He notably rode Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to victory at Monmouth in the 2015 Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1).
But with Espinoza now based at Saratoga Race Course this summer, the trip is now a much easier one, and Espinoza took advantage of a short road trip July 26 to travel to Monmouth to ride Running Away to victory in the $252,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3).
He rode the Monmouth strip like a seasoned regular, leaving his mount well positioned in the 1 1/16-mile Monmouth Oaks with a pace-pressing trip. Settling Running Away just off Paris Lily as that one set fractions of :23.36 and :47.18, he sent his mount to take over after six furlongs in 1:12.44. She maintained the lead to the wire, hitting the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front of runner-up Fondly.
"It really helped me to be able to drive her the way I wanted to," Espinoza said.
Paris Lily faded but was able to fend off Ruth for the show.
In notching her first graded stakes victory and third stakes win, Running Away paid $11.40 for a $2 win wager. The Wesley Ward trainee was timed in 1:46.26 on a fast track.
Stud TNT's Running Away is a homebred 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner out of the multiple stakes-producing Unbridled's Song mare Allez Marie. Gun Runner stood this past breeding season at Three Chimneys Farm for $250,000.
