Asmussen exacta: Runnin N Gunnin wins Sunland Oaks
Racing last in the compact field of seven 3-year-old fillies, Runnin N Gunnin picked off rivals in the middle of the backstretch, circled the frontrunners in the second turn and drew away in the homestretch for a 4 3/4-length win over stablemate Enchanting on Sunday in the black-type, $400,000 Sunland Park Oaks.
The two-turn mile that resulted in an exacta for trainer Steve Asmussen and the sire Gun Runner was a points prep for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
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Bob Baffert-trained odds-on favorite Maysam (1-9) was fractious in the gate before she broke slowly in her second start. She spent valuable energy trying to find position in the first turn and wound up flattening to finish a non-threatening sixth.
Pink Pacific (17-1) established the early pace through a first quarter-mile in 24.19 seconds. Sunland Park’s leading rider Alfredo Juárez took Runnin N Gunnin (5-1) to the rear of the pack before winding her up to begin her charge. By that time, Street Colors (47-1) had taken over the lead through a half-mile in 47.78 seconds.
Going wide around the second turn, Runnin N Gunnin assumed the lead through three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.82 before he ran away to a winning time of 1:40.09 on the sun-drenched main track.
Enchanting (13-1) closed from mid-pack to take second, Stubby (34-1) finished third, Pink Pacific fourth and Rogue Justice (14-1) fifth. The top five finishers were awarded 20-10-6-4-2 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks.
Maysam, who won her 6 1/2-furlong debut by six lengths Jan. 24 at Santa Anita, finished ahead of last-place Street Colors.
Runnin N Gunnin paid $13.80, $7.20 and $5.00; Enchanting $11.60 and $11.40; and Stubby $23.80.
Owned by Douglas Scharbauer, Runnin N Gunnin was a $250,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. She broke her maiden on her third try racing Oct. 29 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. She began her 3-year-old campaign winning a $34,500 allowance race for non-winners of two Jan. 19 at Sam Houston.
With the $147,000 first prize, Runnin N Gunnin ran her career earnings to $193,940 from a record of 6: 3-0-0.