Haskell bound Gun Runner romps in the Matt Winn
As the Triple Crown moved ever further from the first Saturday in May, Gun Runner became one of the less talked about top colts of the three-year-old crop. It’s time to start talking about him again. Getting a head start on the second half of the season in what is still an up for grabs division, and in his first start since finishing third in the Kentucky Derby six weeks ago, the talented son of Candy Ride romped to a stakes record victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes. The easy as he pleased win in the Winn, which was the first of five graded stakes races this evening at Churchill Downs, continues the good momentum for the red-hot Steve Asmussen barn. Gun Runner’s victory for the stable tonight comes just seven days after his stablemate, Creator, got up in a thrilling edition of the Belmont Stakes.
Sent off as the 1-10 favorite, Gun Runner was confidently handled by rider Florent Geroux throughout the 1 1/16 affair, which will serve as his prep for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 31. The heavy favorite broke on top and cruised into the Churchill first bend with little pressure. Carving out all the pace through comfortable fractions of :23.99 and :47.73, only Gray Sky stayed within striking position of the multiple graded stakes winner down the backstretch. Things would only become easier from there.
When the real running began, Gun Runner, under only mild encouragement from Geroux, kicked away from the field and continued on his Sunday drive down the lane. On the wire, the much the best Gun Runner was 5 ¼-lengths clear of his closest pursuer. Gray Sky proved best of the rest, after chasing early, taking second by a half-length over rallying third-place finisher, Texas Chrome.
With the victory, Gun Runner upped his excellent career record to five wins in seven career starts for his owner Winchell Thoroughbreds. It was his third victory in four starts this year, having also accounted for a pair of grade 2 stakes races in New Orleans, including the Louisiana Derby, earlier this season. Only his good effort on May 7, while third behind Nyquist and Exaggerator in the Run for the Roses, stands in his way of a perfect season to this point.
“Visually, looking at him I think that the horse has matured," remarked Asmussen after the race. "He’s stronger than he was. He was beautiful in the gates and went away smoothly. I thought he handled nicely and he’s got beautiful speed. His confidence should be exactly where we’re hoping for going into an extremely competitive Haskell it looks like. I do 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.”
Final time for the 8 ½ furlongs over the fast main track at Churchill Downs was 1:41.12, which crushed the previous stakes record for the Matt Winn. As the overwhelming choice in the field of seven Gun Runner returned $2.20, $2.10, and $2.10 across the board. The $2 exacta over was worth $17.00, and the 2-5-6 trifecta paid $62.40.
From here, Gun Runner will head to New Jersey in six weeks for the million-dollar Haskell at Monmouth Park. It will be another opportunity for the consistent chestnut colt to earn his first Grade 1 victory, having fallen short the first time in America's most famous race. Considering what we saw tonight, Gun Runner should be tough to beat on the Jersey Shore.