Gunite Powers Home in Hopeful Stakes

Don't pinch anyone with Winchell Thoroughbreds, trainer Steve Asmussen, or jockey Richardo Santana Jr. because they're immersed in a dream out of which they'll never want to wake.

So many layers to this dream, too.

At the top sits a strapping dark bay colt named Gunite , who took on a talented field Sept. 6 in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) on closing day at Saratoga Race Course. The maiden winner who finished second to High Oak  in the Aug. 14 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) left the gate in the Hopeful at 11-1. Bettors focused most of their action on Wit , an impressive eight-length winner in the Sanford Stakes (G3) who went off at 3-5, and on High Oak, who landed as the 5-2 second choice.

When the field of 11 rounded out of the turn in the seven-furlong contest, it was Gunite who had everyone's attention. Wit, who lost ground after stumbling at the break, was poised to challenge with an eighth of a mile left, but Gunite and Santana dug in and pulled away to win by 5 3/4 lengths. The final time was 1:23.08.

The victory was made all the more stunning because just the previous day at Saratoga, the same team joined by L and N Racing celebrated the near gate-to-wire victory of Echo Zulu  in the Spinaway Stakes (G1).

And there's more.

Both Gunite and Echo Zulu are the progeny of Three Chimneys Farm's freshman sire Gun Runner  , the 2017 Horse of the Year and six-time grade 1 winner, who was trained by Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys. Santana was not aboard for most of Gun Runner's career, but he was in the saddle for his debut victory Sept. 11, 2015, at Churchill Downs. The son of Candy Ride   would go on to win 12 of 19 starts and bank a remarkable $15,988,500.

Gun Runner appears to be carrying all the momentum from his racing career into this stud career, which has him leading the North American freshman sire standings with more than $1.2 million and now two grade 1 winners.

"We were anxious to get the Gun Runners running," said Asmussen after winning the Hopeful for a third straight year and becoming the first trainer since Todd Pletcher in 2010 to win five grade 1 stakes at the meet. "The distance; it was a little too short. (Gunite's) from a solid sprint family of the Winchells with Gun Runner giving him some endurance. But he's very durable, mentally and physically. As much pressure as we put on him, he accepted it."

Gunite is the first foal to race out of the Cowboy Cal  stakes winner Simple Surprise , who is out of the grade 3-placed, stakes-winning sprinter Simplify , a daughter of Pulpit. Simple Surprise has a yearling full sister to Gunite and produced a filly by Copper Bullet   this year. She was bred back to Tapiture.

Santana said Gunite is a versatile horse, so he didn't gun for the lead after the break. Headline Report  took the early lead followed closely by Kevin's Folly  and Defend . Headline Report led through the opening quarter in :22.23 but he didn't own the lead for long. Santana and Gunite found plenty of room along the rail and road this path like a conveyor belt to the top of the turn where they eased past Headline Report. Gunite held the front through fractions of :44.49 and 1:10.36, not taking a serious challenge until Wit rounded three-wide into the stretch. Wit had room but not enough gas.

"I made my move, and he was making his move by himself," said Santana. "I was really comfortable with him the whole race. He's getting better and better and better. These Gun Runners always act so professionally. They keep their mind on their business."

Pletcher, who trains Wit for Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable, said the colt compromised himself at the break.

"I thought he put in a good, sustained run. It was a tough spot to come from," he said. Pletcher said stumbling out of the gate caused Wit to take a "decent chunk" out of both quarters.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was riding Wit, said the colt simply had too much to overcome.

"He got beat by a nice horse," the rider said. "I had to hustle him and ask him to get position to get there on time, but it was too much. It looks like he can (stretch out)."

Asmussen said the Oct. 2 Champagne Stakes (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Belmont Park, is in Gunite's future.

"I love him for more 2-year-old races this year. We know what we want his next two races to be, and we feel really good about them," the trainer said. "The Champagne and the Breeders' Cup are what we're hoping his next two races are. I love his style for the Juvenile. He's going to travel and we'll try to take it. We're very proud of him."

Gunite paid $25.20, $6.90, and $5.40, while Wit paid $2.80 and $2.40. Michael McLoughlin's Kevin's Folly, who is trained by Tom Amoss, finished third by three lengths and paid $6.80. High Oak  was fourth.

Video: Hopeful S. (G1)