Derby prep: Gun Runner at Fair Grounds draws 7 prospects
Fair Grounds’ expanded road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off a week from Sunday with the inaugural running of the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, which attracted a field of seven 2-year-olds.
Recent maiden winners Epicenter for trainer Steve Asmussen and Rocket Dawg for Brad Cox figure to draw plenty of attention from horseplayers. Epicenter, a $260,000 Not This Time colt for Winchell Thoroughbreds, attended a sharp pace and drew clear late when graduating going a mile at Churchill Downs in his second start on Nov. 13. That effort drew a race-high 95 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Epicenter will break from the rail under Brian Hernandez Jr., who replaces the injured Joel Rosario.
Rocket Dawg was a $375,000 auction purchase as a yearling and is campaigned by Frank Fletcher Racing and Ten Strike Racing. The son of Classic Empire debuted going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 19 and promptly aired by 5 1/2 lengths, which earned a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Rocket Dawg, who will again be ridden by Florent Geroux, drew post 3 for the 1 1/16-miles Gun Runner.
Tejano Twist, a Practical Joke gelding, has already racked up three wins and a trio of runner-up finishes in eight starts for trainer Bret Calhoun. He is also the lone stakes winner in the field having taken the 6 1/2-furlong Lively Shively at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27, which was preceded by an allowance win at Keeneland.
This will be Tejano Twist’s first time around two turns. A homebred for Tom Durant, he will break from post 6 under regular rider Joe Rocco Jr.
Also hoping to catch a wave is Surfer Dude for trainer Dallas Stewart. The son of Curlin, who was a $190,000 auction purchase as a yearling, was beaten six lengths by Epicenter in the aforementioned Nov. 13 race at Churchill Downs. However, he came right back 15 days later to earn his diploma in Louisville while earning a competitive 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Reylu Gutierrez will take over in the irons for Tyler Gaffalione aboard Surfer Dude.
The lone entrant with graded-stakes form is Kevin's Folly, who was a distant third in the Hopeful (G1) this summer for trainer Tom Amoss. In two subsequent starts, the $80,000 Distorted Humor was never a factor when third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and again got show dough at 8-1 when dropping into a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.
Kevin's Folly will have new rider James Graham from post 5.
The Gun Runner goes as race 11 on a 12-race card that also features the inaugural running of the $100,000 Untapable Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the Kentucky Oaks trail. The races pay out 17 qualifying points each to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks paid on a scale of 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Scheduled post time for the Gun Runner is 6:37 p.m. EST.
Following the Gun Runner, the Fair Grounds road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 22, the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 19 and concludes with the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 26.