Tiderunner makes all in the Grade Three Tiny Toes Stakes

The Grade Three Tiny Toes Stakes gave the two-year-old turfers a chance to prove themselves over a mile, and produced a change in fortune for many of the runners. The early pace was set by R.Truitt’s mount Tiderunner, who seems to enjoy being at the head of affairs, with Cool Like Fonzie(AUS) and the favourite Northern Chant in close contention and Unbeaten(AUS) about a length behind them. Of the other principal runners, Bead Two(GB) was settled in mid-division and Cronus(IRE) and Kepler Berzerk brought up the rear, with the latter some two and a half lengths detached from the field.

At the half-way point, Bead Two(GB) began to make some headway, but although he was still closing at the finish, he was unable to match the speed of the deep closers Cronus(IRE) and Kepler Berzerk, who finished second and third respectively, with Bead Two(GB) fourth. In front of this quartet, Tiderunner held on to take the race by one and a half lengths. Only one and three-quarter lengths covered the first four home, with a gap of more than four lengths to fifth place, which was filled by the fading Cool Like Fonzie(AUS).

This was a very determined front-running effort by the winner, who improved from running speed figures in the mid-70s at sprint distances to a figure of 89 here. It’s extremely likely that we can expect more to come from this colt now that he has been stretched out in distance, which can only be good news for his trainer kingfish.

RESULT:

Tiny Toes Stakes
Purse: $125,000
All horses, 2 years old
One mile — Firm Turf

Post Horse Win Place Show
4 TIDERUNNER $19.70 $10.60 $6.30
9 CRONUS(IRE) $8.00 $4.70
7 KEPLER BERZERK $4.00

Exacta: $163.60
Trifecta: $903.10

Also Rans: BEAD TWO(GB), COOL LIKE FONZIE(AUS), NORTHERN CHANT, SULPHUR SPRINGS, RUBRUM OBSCURUM, UNBEATEN(AUS), PHONEY(AUS), HILL OF MYSTIQUE

Time of race: 1:36 3/5