GUN RUNNER (h, 5, Candy Ride {Arg}–Quiet Giant, by Giant's Causeway), crowned Horse of the Year at Thursday night's Eclipse Awards, went out a winner Saturday with a convincing score in the $16-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream. Away well from his much-talked-about outside draw, the chestnut sat a perfect trip in second pressing splits of :23.41, :46.61 and 1:10.21 set by Collected (City Zip). Only he or West Coast (Flatter) looked like possible winners turning for home, and while 2017's champion sophomore gave game chase, Gun Runner simply had more in the tank despite struggling with his lead changes a bit. The margin of victory was some two lengths, with a chasm back to Gunnevera (Dialed In) in third. Gun Runner, last seen annexing the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4, stopped the timer in 1:47.41. He will now head to Three Chimneys Farm for stud duty, and will command an initial fee of $70,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year and Ch. Older Male, 19-12-3-2.
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Three Chimneys Farm. B-Besilu Stables LLC (Ky). T-Steven Asmussen.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $16,300,000, GP, 1-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:47.41, ft.
1–GUN RUNNER, 124, h, 5, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Quiet Giant (GSW, $405,389),
by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Quiet Dance, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Misty Dancer, by Lyphard
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Three Chimneys Farm;
B-Besilu Stables LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Florent
Geroux. $7,000,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year & Ch.
Older Dirt Male-US, G1SP-UAE, 19-12-3-2, $15,988,500. Werk
Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”nbs-success”][bullet ad=”ea-bloodstock-2-yo-selection”][bullet ad=”bridlewood-farm-training-graduate”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]
2–West Coast, 124, c, 4, Flatter–Caressing, by Honour and
Glory. ($425,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Gary & Mary West; B-CFP
Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $1,600,000.[bullet ad=”hermitage-farm-carl-f-pollard”]
3–Gunnevera, 124, c, 4, Dialed In–Unbridled Rage, by
Unbridled. ($16,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Margoth &
GalloStables; B-Brandywine Farm & Stephen Upchurch (KY);
T-Antonio Sano. $1,300,000.[bullet ad=”brandywine-proud-of-gunnevera-double”][bullet ad=”altamira-training-graduate”]
Margins: 2HF, 10 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.10, 3.70, 13.70.
Also Ran: Fear the Cowboy, Seeking the Soul, Stellar Wind, Collected, Sharp Azteca, Giant Expectations, War Story, Singing Bullet, Toast of New York. Scratched: Game Over, Giuseppe the Great.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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