Breeders' Cup Hopeful Gunite Set for Perryville Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Gunite wins the Harrods Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs
Winchell Thoroughbreds' grade 1 winner Gunite leads a field of seven 3-year-olds entered in the Oct. 22 Perryville Stakes going seven furlongs over the Keeneland dirt.
The son of Gun Runner has won three of his five starts this year after an eight-month hiatus following his 2021 season. His wins include the July 3 Maxfield Overnight Stakes, July 31 Amsterdam Stakes (G2), and last out in the Sept. 24 Harrods Creek Stakes.
His other starts were runner-up finishes June 3 in an allowance optional claiming race and in the Aug. 27 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1).
During his 2-year-old year, the colt was runner-up in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) and then won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) his next time out.
Gunite wins the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Steve Asmussen, who trains the colt, says he is happy with his form this year.
"He's been excellent in this type of race all year, and hopefully we get more of the same. (I'm) happy he was winning again," Asmussen said.
"His last three races were excellent—his win in the Amsterdam, his second in the Allen Jerkens, and then the other day at Churchill."
Gunite is currently being considered for starts in both the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), both held Nov. 5, which Asmussen says the colt is still on target for.
Another contender in the Perryville is 2021 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) victor Pinehurst .
Pinehurst wins the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
Trained by Brendan Walsh, the son of Twirling Candy has earned $1,213,500 from seven starts. In 2021, he was fifth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1).
So far this year, the colt was runner-up in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and then won the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby (G3) next out. He went up against Gunite in his last start where he was eighth in the Amsterdam.
He is owned in partnership with SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.
Other entries include Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) runner-up Of a Revolution who is 3-3-1 from eight starts. The Saffie Joseph trainee has yet to win in stakes company for owners Bassett Stables, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables.
The field is completed by Doug O'Neill trainee B Dawk , Andrew Warren's Friar Laurence , Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) third Provocateur , Chad Brown trainee Artorius , and Dream Team One Racing Stable's Hoist the Gold .
Keeneland, Saturday, October 22, 2022, Race 6Entries: Perryville S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Hoist the Gold (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Dallas Stewart
12/1
2
2Provocateur (KY)
Luis Saez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
15/1
3
3Artorius (KY)
Florent Geroux
120
Chad C. Brown
5/2
4
4Pinehurst (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Brendan P. Walsh
20/1
5
5Friar Laurence (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
118
Ben Colebrook
30/1
6
6B Dawk (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
Doug F. O'Neill
6/1
7
7Of a Revolution (KY)
Gerardo Corrales
118
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
5/1
8
8Gunite (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
122
Steven M. Asmussen
6/5
