Will Gun Runner Run Away With Nyquist's Crown?
Gun Runner has always displayed an enormous amount of potential.
Before the Kentucky Derby, the son of Candy Ride owned a record with just one blemish, which came at the hands of a sloppy racecourse.
In 2016 he began with a solid effort in the Risen Star Stakes, at the Fair Grounds. He got a little leg weary at the end, but that was to be expect after coming off a nearly three-month long layoff.
As expected, he improved dramatically in his next outing, the Louisiana Derby. His tactical speed was on display again as he sat just off the leaders before sneaking through an opening between horses. He then surged to the lead, drawing away by four and a half lengths.
Unfortunately, in Kentucky he ran into two buzzsaws named Nyquist and Exaggerator. He ran side by side with Nyquist for most of the race, not too far off of Danzing Candy, who was setting a blistering pace. Staying so close took its toll as Gun Runner began to fade after gaining the lead briefly in upper stretch. In the end he finished a very respectable third, holding off the highly regarded Mohaymen.
This past Saturday, Gun Runner returned with a flourish in the Matt Winn Stakes, at Churchill Downs.
The race was not exceedingly tough on paper, and by post time the odds reflected that. However, while he was expected to win, and win easily, nobody was prepared for the type of effort he turned in.
Showing a new dimension, Gun Runner inherited the lead before the field even hit the clubhouse turn. He set a comfortable pace, running his first quarter in :23.99, the half mile in :47.73, and the first six furlongs in 1:11.66.
It was at that point that jockey Florent Geroux asked Gun Runner to pick up the pace, and from there it was all over.
Gun Runner responded to Geroux immediately, turning on the after burners, speeding through his next quarter mile in :23.30 seconds, giving him a mile split of 1:34.96. He kept going from there, getting his final sixteenth of a mile in :06.16 seconds. The final time was a snappy 1:41.12, under very little urging.
For the effort he was given an Equibase Speed Figure of 114, which represents the second highest of his age group. The highest is currently held by Mohaymen at 115, which he received after his tour de force victory in the Fountain of Youth.
After the race, trainer Steve Asmussen noted how well the colt has matured since the Kentucky Derby, saying that Gun Runner is stronger now.
That strength definitely came through on Saturday, now the question is will it continue through the rest of the year?
This performance sets Gun Runner up for an assault on the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Should he win there, then Gun Runner would throw his proverbial hat into the ring for divisional honors, a race that is extremely tight at the moment.
Currently Nyquist heads the three-year-old division, but should he fall short in his next couple starts, Gun Runner will be provided with a chance to overtake him. Obviously, Gun Runner would need to continue to race impressively while winning key races, such as the Haskell and Travers. However, after Saturday that task seems well within his scope.
Will Gun Runner step up to the plate? Has he matured enough to steal championship honors away from Nyquist?
Only time will tell, but in a race as close as this one, Gun Runner stands a very good chance of running away with divisional honors by the year’s end.