Gun Runner Wires Matt Winn Stakes

Gun Runner, Pleuven and Auntie Joy Gallop Find Success Under Twin Spires

Gun Runner Finds Winners’ Circle in Matt Winn Stakes

Third place finisher in the this year’s Kentucky Derby, Gun Runner hit Churchill’s dirt track once more, this time galloping to victory in the $100,000 Gr.3 Matt Winn Stakes. Under the direction of jockey Florent Geroux, the Kentucky-bred colt won the 1 1/16-mile contest in wire-to-wire fashion on Saturday, June 18th.

Third out of the gate, Gun Runner wasted no time and situated himself upfront to lead the field of six. Grand Sky and Texas Chrome stalked just behind as the chestnut galloped through fractions of :23.99, :47.73, 1:11.66 and 1:34.96. But there was no catching the Asmussen-trainee, who opened up a three length lead on the stretch and hit the wire 5 ¼-lengths, clocking a final time of 1:41.12 — 8 milliseconds over the track record of 1:41.04, set by Successful Dan in 2012.

“Looking at him, I think he has matured. He’s stronger than he was,” expressed trainer Steve Asmussen. “He was beautiful in the gates and went away smoothly. His confidence should be exactly where we’re hoping for going into an extremely competitive Haskell it looks like. I think that he is of the highest quality and this is only his seventh lifetime race. He is faster now than he has ever been and that’s a great thing.”

A son of Candy Ride (ARG), Gun Runner is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables LLC. The 3-year-old stands a record of 7-5-0-1 and has amassed $1,168,300 in earnings since debuting back in September of 2015. This was his third graded stakes victory.

Pleuven Breaks Through in Wise Dan

Pleuven made his third race of 2016 an impressive one, taking the $200,000 Gr.2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 18 by three-quarters of a length. The French-bred gelding was second last out in the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill in May.

Jockey Channing Hill was in the irons for the race and held his mount in a stalking position off the rail early in the race. Kasaqui set the pace out of the gate and remained in the lead for the majority of the race, taking the field through fractions of :23.81 for the opening quarter, :48.31 for the half-mile, 1:11.82 for six furlongs, and 1:35.04 for the mile. Pleuven made his bid as the field came around the far turn. Kasaqui was under pressure through the lane but could not fight off Pleuven mid-stretch, and had to settle for second. The final time for the 1 1/16 mile turf contest was 1:40.96.

Pleuven, a 5-year-old gelding, is by Turtle Bowl and out of the Singspiel mare Under Estimated. From 11 career starts, he has 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds for earnings of $262,906. He is trained by Phil Sims for Nelson McMakin.

The Wise Dan was previously run as the Firecracker, but was renamed for the Champion horse, who was on-site at Churchill Downs that night.

Auntie Joy Delights in Regret Stakes

Uncle Mo added another stakes winner to his resume on June 18, when Sanford Robertson’s Auntie Joy won the $100,000 Gr.3 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs. It was her first stakes victory.

The 3-year-old filly set the pace out of the gate under jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. and stayed there the majority of the race. The field followed her through fractions of :24.02, :49.48, 1:14.00, and 1:37.50. She shook clear near the ⅛th pole and coasted to the wire to win by 1 ¼ lengths. The final time for the race was 1:49.24.

Auntie Joy has 3 wins and a second from 6 starts for earnings of $147,350.