Gun Runner Validates Reasons for Partnership

In an April 18 workout for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Gun Runner provided a snapshot why Three Chimneys Farm was keen on retaining part-interest when it sold the chestnut colt to Winchell Thoroughbreds last year.

In company with Gold Hawk, Gun Runner cruised five-eighths of a mile in 1:00 under jockey Florent Geroux at Churchill Downs shortly after 7 a.m. EDT. Churchill clockers caught Gun Runner gliding through successive eighth-miles in :12 4/5, :12 2/5, :12, :11 3/5, and :12, then galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 1/5.

"He's a very good work horse in the morning," Geroux said afterward. "Today was just what Mr. Asmussen asked us to do—a set up for next week. He did it very easily, like a two-minute lick. He galloped out in 1:13 just pointing his ears. Very nice, just what Steve wanted: Relax early on and pick it up and at the end save lots of energy.

"The horse has been training very well, so we're excited. It's a dream just to be able to compete in the race. To participate with a real chance is a bigger dream."

Three Chimneys chief operating officer Chris Baker said Gun Runner was a yearling when the farm forged a bloodstock partnership with Benjamin Leon, whose Besilu Stables bred the colt and retains an interest in him. Gun Runner is a son of the Lane's End stallion Candy Ride   out of the grade II-winning Giant's Causeway mare Quiet Giant, who is from the family of Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Saint Liam.

"He was at a 2-year-old sale, but he did not go through the sale, and that's where the partnership with Ron Winchell was struck," Baker said of staying on as a part-owner. "That was our intention all along."

Of Gun Runner, Baker said: "Pedigree. Conformation. Athleticism. Just the way he always carried himself, just very smart, intelligent, classy. Easy-moving horse, kind of scopey and light, but in a good way—just an athlete. He's handy. You look back at the Risen Star (gr. II), where he was in tight and (Geroux) had to use him to get out, and he has got more than one run that way and a relatively high cruising speed. But it's not his only weapon. He can put himself there and idle and go again.

"You look at his pedigree; it's the right blend of speed and stamina: Candy Ride on Giant's Causeway. We've got a stallion barn that we want to fill. He was the kind that had enough of the attributes on paper, that if he did what we thought he could do, he'd be in our stallion barn. And he hasn't proven us wrong yet."

Gun Runner has lost only once in five starts, finishing fourth in last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill. While that field has proven itself to be extremely strong, with Mo Tom, Mor Spirit, and Tom's Ready also in the Kentucky Derby, Asmussen second-guesses himself as not doing enough with Gun Runner before the race.

"I think I was a little overconfident going into it," he said. "He needed a little more, off just two races, against more-seasoned horses. I think he has matured nicely, put in two great runs this year, and gotten more out of his training and breezing."

Monday's workout is a prelude for an even more serious move that will be Gun Runner's major effort before the Kentucky Derby.

"He worked very well this morning and settled into Churchill very nicely," Asmussen said. "I was very pleased with the work; he goes over the racetrack really well. I'm obviously excited about our opportunity.

"He's a tremendous individual as far as conformation, pedigree-wise. He has got a great attitude—just the whole package. He accepts what he's doing and is very energetic as far as training. He has always been very effortless over the racetrack, like his work this morning. He goes around there in a minute and does it very kindly.

"In the Derby, (with) 20 runners, I don't think they're going to all love the surface. We don't have to worry about that."

Asmussen, who won the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) with WinStar Farm's Creator, is on the ballot for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Asked if he thought about it much, the trainer said: "I'd rather win the Derby. It's a wonderful honor, but right now our focus is definitely the Derby and the Oaks. I've been dreaming about (winning the Derby) for a long time, before I ever won a race. I feel extremely fortunate to have two excellent chances at it this year."

The Winchells, including the late patriarch Verne, have never finished better than Classic Go Go's fourth in 1981 out of eight Kentucky Derby starters. That includes super-sire Tapit  's ninth-place finish in 2004.

Gun Runner shows excellent traits to be their Derby breakthrough horse, having solid 2-year-old form, including an allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles, and then starting this year with victory in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II). He has the speed to get into a good position without being headstrong or overanxious.

"The best thing about him is that he's very manageable," David Fiske, the Winchells' longtime racing and bloodstock manager, said of Gun Runner. "You can pretty much put him where you want to and he's very responsive. He doesn't seem to get into a hurry. If you want to lay up closer to the lead, he'll get up close. If you want to sit back a ways, he'll sit back. That's probably his greatest attribute.

"We always liked him. You cross your fingers and hope he's the kind of horse that you think he is. Obviously there are a lot of potential speed bumps along the way. Just the news that came about Songbird (being out of the Kentucky Oaks [gr. I] after developing a fever) illustrates just how tough it is to get to where you want to be in this game.

"Every time my phone rings, and one of my trainers' names comes up on my phone, you just shutter. Especially if it's like late in the afternoon, some odd time when they usually don't call you. Your first thing is, 'What's wrong?' Every day is an adventure."

While there are three Tapit sons expected for this year's Derby—Creator, UAE Derby (UAE-II) winner Lani, and multiple stakes winner Mohaymen—none are owned by Ron Winchell, whose family still owns a considerable piece of the Gainesway stallion.

"It's a little disappointment not be represented," Fiske said of not owning a Derby-bound Tapit out of all the sons of the stallion in their racing stable. "On the other hand, we love all things Tapit. To have three (Tapits in the Derby), that's great, and maybe a couple in the Kentucky Oaks."

One of those is Taxable, second in Oaklawn Park's Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) by a neck to stablemate Terra Promessa, and who is owned by Winchell and his mother, Joan.

"I think everybody with a 3-year-old filly is checking the points board this morning," Fiske said.