CT: Gurney Halleck looks to double down on Moscarelli * The Racing Biz

A sharp field of West Virginia-bred juveniles will compete in Saturday night’s Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic, and all eyes will be on Gurney Halleck, the gray son of Practical joke who cemented himself as one to watch with an impressive victory in last month’s Henry Mercer Memorial.

Gurney Halleck, trained by Jeff Runco and owned by David Raim, made the leap from second place in his debut to victory in the professional stakes, rallying from mid-table to beat the leaders late under Arnaldo Bocachica. Mercer’s victory confirmed the colt’s quality and hinted that extra distance might be right for him.

“After he was defeated in the first special weight, Jeff wanted to bring him back in another first race,” Bocachica said of the colt. “But I told Jeff I thought he could win the stakes. I thought there was a lot of speed in it and I could get there late. He’ll be very good. I think he’ll do better if he makes two turns.”

While Bocachica will be busy on the Breeders’ Classics card – with more than 10 mounts, most of them for Runco – Gurney Halleck gives the duo one of their strongest chances for another big win.

Among the rivals looking to turn the tables are Tricks R for Juba, a hard-working gelding who dueled for the lead in the Mercer before finishing third, and Noble Ruling, who broke his maiden track in August by completing two turns around this circuit before finishing a full fifth behind Gurney Halleck in the same stakes. Hopapa, a well-bred son of Aldrin from the shed of Javier Contreras, showed promise when third in his debut and was able to move ahead in his second start.

Despite all the early speed in the field, the lineup can once again play to Gurney Halleck’s strengths. If he continues his progress, this could be another step towards a very bright future for the Practical joke Colt looking built for bigger things to come.