He was one of the better three-year-olds in 2007, and after qualifying this morning at Mohawk Racetrack, Trot Insider spoke with Running Book's trainer, Erv Miller about the son of Real Desire.
"We had trouble getting him back to the races," Miller told Trot Insider. "He had some pretty serious issues with diarrhea. Every time we stepped him up, he would just loosen up."
Miller said that he believes Dr. Goodrow has got the situation straightened out. "At this point, we think part of the problem had to do with allergies," the conditioner said. Miller began training Running Book in May. He had been trained previously by Bill Elliott.
After a very promising freshman campaign (11-5-2-0, $137,184 1:52.2s), hopes were high for Running Book heading into his three-year-old season. From 20 starts the bay assembled a resume of just 3-2-3, but one of those wins was in 1:48.4, which came in a Meadowlands Pace elimination. So far in 2008, Running Book has made just five pari-mutuel starts, failing to hit the board.
This morning, with Rick Zeron in the race bike, Running Book left from Post 3 and sat second through the first two quarters (:29.2, :58.3). When Zeron moved him, it was all over.
Ahead by eighth lengths at the 1:27 three quarters pole, Zeron and Running Book cruised the rest of the way, maintaining their lead and stopping the clock in 1:56.1. The track was rated 'good' and a two-second allowance in time was given by the presiding Ontario Racing Commission judges.
"We know that he is the type of horse that can compete quite well at the Woodbine Open level, and that's what we're shooting for," Miller told Trot Insider.
To see the charted results from Mohawk's Friday qualifying session, click here.