Cupid’s Runaway named Thoroughbred Horse of the Meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Cupid’s Runaway was nearly perfect in 2024 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The four-year-old son of Cupid capped off his season on Nov. 12 with his seventh win of the meet in eight starts to win honors as Thoroughbred Horse of the Meet.

Cupid’s Runaway began his season in April with a win. After one fourth place finish in early July, the chestnut gelding put together a string of five wins to polish off the season, topping $100,000 in earnings for the year.

Cupid’s Runaway, known as Rusty by his connections, is a homebred owned and raised by Reese Ranch of Plymouth, Indiana, and trained by Randy Klopp.

“Dennis Reese had him broke and called me and asked me to come up and look at him,” recalled Klopp. “He had crooked legs, and I was a little concerned he might not be able to train, but the horse has never had an issue. He gives you 100 percent every time he goes out. And he’s a great horse to be around in the barn, too. I thank Mr. Reese for letting us train him.”

“Rusty” became a favorite around the Klopp barn, for both his mannerism and productivity on the track. He also became a favorite for the track’s leading jockey Alberto Burgos, who was aboard for all his starts and wins in 2024.

“I love to ride this horse,” said Burgos, who earned his first leading jockey title of his career in 2024. “Every time he tries to run and go for it. I love it.”

Unraced at two, Cupid’s Runaway is now eight for 10 in his career. His dam, Runnin from Rosie, who won six races during her career before becoming a brood mare, was also bred and raised at Reese Ranch, making Cupid’s Runaway a second-generation product of their breeding and racing operation.

With his seventh win of the season, Cupid’s Runaway also moves into the record books. He joins Longleggedlaverne as the horse with the most wins in one season of either breed. She set the mark in 2022.

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