Reef Runner Ready To Roll In 1351 Turf Sprint

[Wandering Eyes]

“It's been a long time since a country boy from Conway, Arkansas, has been invited to a race in a place like Saudi Arabia.”

So says Alex Lieblong, who in partnership with his wife JoAnn bred and race Reef Runner, a homebred son of the couple's Grade I King's Bishop Stakes winner The Big Beast, who flies a bit beneath the radar, but looms a real chance in Saturday's $2-million G2 1351 Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

The Lieblongs, who have campaigned the likes of Grade I winners Telling (A.P. Indy), Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) and Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) in addition to The Big Beast, purchased Reef Runner's dam, Paradise Bay (Blame), for $350,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale. The acquisition occurred about six months after her half-sister, former 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Paradise Woods (Union Rags), took out the GI Santa Anita Oaks and the acquisition looked that much better when that filly defeated her elders in the GI Zenyatta Stakes a few weeks after the sale. Paradise Woods would go on to finish a sound third in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“I love Blame as a broodmare sire and The Big Beast was extremely talented, he loved seven furlongs,” Lieblong said. “It's a better pedigree than it might look.”

Reef Runner is trained for the Lieblongs by David Fawkes, who conditioned the $1.9-million earner Duke of Mischief (Graeme Hall) for the couple. And Lieblong says that the reports emanating from the Middle East are nothing short of glowing.

“David has sent me pictures and I have to say, I think Reef Runner looks about as good as I've ever seen him. He's really sparkling,” said Lieblong, who flies from Dallas to the desert on Tuesday. “All the reports are good. I can tell it in David's voice when it's good or bad and it's all good right now. I haven't received any negative vibes at all.”

Alex Lieblong | Fasig-Tipton

Reef Runner has amassed a record of 5-4-4 from 16 starts in turf sprints and–with the exception of the 2024 Mahony Stakes at Saratoga–has never run a truly poor race on the surface. Also a stakes winner on the synthetic track at Gulfstream Park, the bay put together his best season in 2025. First past the post,but demoted to the runner-up spot in the 'Win and You're In' five-furlong GIII Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar in August, he came running late to take the GIII Eddie D. Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita Sept. 27. As short as 13-2 for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 1, he was scarcely disgraced in fourth behind 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Shisospicy (Mitole) and will be making his first start since annexing the Janus Stakes going five-eighths over the Gulfstream turf course Dec. 20 (video).

Lieblong feels that the added real estate of this weekend's race very much works in favor of Reef Runner, who picks up the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr. with the defection from the 1351 of Shisospicy.

“I really like the distance for the horse,” he said. “Five furlongs for what he does is a little tough sometimes. To make up as much ground as he does, that is tricky going that distance. [Lieblong trainer] Steve Hobby was watching that last race from Florida and says 'there's no way he was ever going to get up.' But he did.”

A victory on Saturday could lead to something of a Lieblong family reunion in Dubai for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in six weeks' time.

“I promised my son if he wins that we'll keep him over there and then the whole family can go to Dubai,” Lieblong said. “If the grandkids can get out of college, we'll bring them too.”

But first things first. And win, lose or draw, Lieblong is excited not only about the opportunity that lies ahead, but to also experiencing a new port of call.

“I am looking forward to every bit of it,” he said. “I'm one of these guys that likes to look around and observe, that's what I feed off of. I just think it's going to be a neat experience. We're looking forward to it and we're just really grateful for the invitation.”

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