Runnin'toluvya Looks to Keep Win Streak Going in Iselin

Trainer Timothy Grams has only raced Runnin'toluvya once outside of West Virginia—and that was three years ago—but based on the 5-year-old gelding's recent form, he feels it's time to try again. The 5-year-old son of Fiber Sonde will put a 10-race winning streak on the line June 22 as the 123-pound highweight in the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.

Runnin'toluvya has not lost since May 17, 2018, when he was second by a neck. He followed that defeat by reeling off 10 straight victories, all at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, where he captured the April 20 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles over Diamond King and War Story.

"He sure has exceeded all of our expectations," Grams said. "He's been a real special horse for us. So far, he has shown he can step to the plate when the competition gets better. This is another test to see if he can do it on the road.

"You never know if they're going to take their game on the road, so we'll see."

The Iselin, at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up, has attracted a competitive field of seven. Diamond King will take on Runnin'toluvya again in a field that includes the Todd Pletcher-trained Bal Harbour and 2018 betfair.com Long Branch Stakes winner Navy Commander.

Grams, whose wife, Judy, partners with him in his training operation, also owns Runnin'toluvya.

"The longer the winning streak goes, the more pressure there is, I think," he said. "It gives you confidence because the horse is so good. But you know it's going to end soon, even though you don't want it to."

Runnin'toluvya has won 11 of his 12 starts the past two years and is 13-for-17 lifetime. If he wins the Iselin Stakes, he would become Grams' first millionaire.

"That would mean a lot," Grams said. "It would be a huge career accomplishment for me and my wife."

Runnin'toluvya has raced exclusively at Charles Town ever since he suffered a condylar fracture as a 2-year-old following a race at Laurel Park, an injury that required surgery and sidelined the horse for "almost a year and a half," said Grams.

He was a sprinter until he won at nine furlongs in the West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes last October, then won the Charles Town Classic.

"He took to the longer distance without a problem," Grams said. "He can cruise in :47 and change and still get the distance."

Grams isn't sure his stable star has reached his full potential yet.

"I don't know if he has," he said. "He has done everything you can ask a horse to do. I don't know if he is capable of doing better or not. He's definitely training good. I think he's at the top of his game, but I don't know if we have seen his career best yet. I guess we'll start to find out.

"It would be great if things work out and he wins this race. Even if he just runs a good race, it gives us options down the road to where we can ship him if we want to."

Entries: Philip H. Iselin S. (G3)

Monmouth Park, Saturday, June 22, 2019, Race 10

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bal Harbour (KY)	Joe Bravo	116	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
2	2Navy Commander (PA)	Luis Saez	116	Robert E. Reid, Jr.	12/1
3	3Runnin'toluvya (WV)	Angel Suarez	123	Timothy C. Grams	3/1
4	4Just Call Kenny (VA)	Nik Juarez	116	Patrick B. McBurney	8/1
5	5Diamond King (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	116	John C. Servis	2/1
6	6Zanotti (KY)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	116	Juan Carlos Guerrero	10/1
7	7Monongahela (PA)	Jose Lezcano	116	Jason Servis	7/2