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Coastal Mission finds smooth sailing in stretch to win G3 Forty Niner

by NYRA Press Office

Owner-trainer Jeff Runco's West Virginia-homebred Coastal Mission had twice previously placed in graded stakes competition. He can now call himself a graded stakes winner after overtaking Nelson Avenue with a stretch-drive move from the outside, posting a one-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Forty Niner, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Coastal Mission, ridden by Arnaldo Bocachica, had made three previous trips to Aqueduct Racetrack, finishing fifth in the 2023 Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap, fourth in the one-mile Listed Stymie in March and second in the seven-furlong Grade 2 John A. Nerud in July when 1 1/2-lengths back of next-out Grade 1 Forego-winner Mullikin.

On Saturday, Coastal Mission was content to sit off the early speed as Nelson Avenue led the eight-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds, the half in 45.70 and three-quarters in 1:10.51 over the fast main track. Jockey Dylan Davis attempted to complete the gate-to-wire bid, but Bocachica capitalized on daylight from the outside and picked off three rivals once straightened for home, completing the course in a 1:36.10 final time.

Nelson Avenue held off a charging Winit by one length for second, while Repo Rocks finished fourth. Jefferson Street, the slight favorite, finished fifth, while Film Star and Stage Raider completed the order of finish. Multiple graded stakes-winner Messier, returning from a nearly six-month layoff, was pulled up in the stretch run and reported to have bled from the nostrils. He was provided a ride back in the equine ambulance.

Coastal Mission, a last-out winner in the listed Parx Dirt Mile on September 21 at its namesake track, gave Runco his second career graded stakes victory and first since Researcher won the 2008 Grade 3 Queens County Handicap at the Big A.

“He's been very solid soundness wise,” Runco said. “He loves to train - five weeks between races is perfect for him. It looked good on paper, and it looked good on the track. I wasn't sure he'd be quite that far back, but they went 45 [45.70] for the half which was nice for us. 'Boca' let him settle and waited - didn't rush him and was very patient with the horse. The horse wants to finish at the end, and he had a great trip."

Off at 9/2, Coastal Mission paid $11 on a $2 win wager. The 5-year-old Great Notion earned millionaire status with the victory, improving to 14-5-1 in 25 starts with a career bankroll of $1,091,653.

“Usually he doesn't, but today, he broke sharp,” Bocachica said. “I saw three or four horses sending, so I just put him behind horses and he relaxed perfectly. He really relaxed good. I was just waiting for the moment to let him go, and every time I asked him a little bit, he gave me whatever I asked him for."

Runco said Coastal Mission could now target the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by TwinSpires on December 7 at Aqueduct.

“We skipped a race three weeks ago back home to come here,” he said. “We wanted to give him a shot up here at the flat mile so we can look forward to the Cigar Mile in December.”

In victory, Bocachica won his second career graded stakes and first in New York.

“He means a lot. He is the best horse that I've ever rode,” Bocachica said. “He's taken me on a nice ride, I've been different places and he always tries hard. He is special to me, this horse."

Live racing resumes Sunday with a total of 93 New York-breds entered for a special 10-race card at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth a combined $1.6 million, topped by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.