Last Gunfighter Shoots Down San Pablo in Iselin

After a thrilling stretch duel before 14,006 on track Sunday, John D. Gunther’s Last Gunfighter wore down San Pablo to capture the $150,000 Iselin Stakes by a head at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Chad Brown, Last Gunfighter moved wide around the far turn to engage San Pablo, who pressed the early pace.  With San Pablo and jockey Chris DeCarlo on the inside and Last Gunfighter and rider Joe Bravo on the outside, the two colts treated fans to an exhilarating stretch battle that saw the former prevail by a head. 

Dispatched the 4-5 favorite, Last Gunfighter returned $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10.  San Pablo completed the $7.80 exacta and paid $2.80 and $2.40.  It was 5 ½ lengths back to Jaguar Paw, who paid $2.80 to show.  Raging Daoust checked in fourth with Margano rounding out the field.  The time for the mile and an eighth over a fast main track was 1:52 flat.

“I was told in the paddock that he’s a grinder,” said Bravo, “which played a big part in how I rode him.  With that information I knew I wasn’t going to get that one quick punch, so I wound up moving at the 3/8ths pole.  He has a big powerful stride and he just kept coming and coming all the way to the wire.”

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Last Gunfighter is a 4-year-old colt by First Samurai from the Sir Cat mare Saratoga Cat.  He has won seven of his 12 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $635,405.