Running Bac Wins Vessels

Running Bac, who could have been claimed for $16,000 less than a year ago, is now a Grade I winner.

The 4-year-old Splash Bac mare made it four wins in a row and eight victories in her last nine starts with a decisive victory over longshot Mountain Snow and eight others in the $110,200 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

Owned by J. Francisco Diaz and trained by Juan Aleman, the 4-1 third choice broke well under jockey Ramon Sanchez and never looked like a loser at any point while completing the 400 yards in 19.75 seconds.

Bred in Utah by Kevin Glasmann, Running Bac has lost only once since Aug. 4, 2001, and has now won 10 of 16 in her career, but she had never beaten a field of the quality of the one she handled so easily Saturday evening. She also dispelled any doubts about her ability to handle 400 yards. Before the Vessels, all of her success had come at 350 yards, and her last defeat had come when she was fourth in the 550-yard Paul Ford Handicap last Dec. 7.

“I knew if she got away clean from the gate, she would be right there,” Aleman said.