Gun Runner Firster Bests Elders Stylishly, Becomes a 'Rising Star'

Part of a favored Klaravich Stable entry favored at 70 cents on the dollar, Strategic Focus (c, 3, Gun Runner–Curlin's Mistress, by Curlin) turned in a highly polished debut effort, outfinishing a pair of older rivals to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his boom sire.

Drawn widest in a field of eight, the $500,000 Keeneland September purchase broke fractionally to his right and was taken in hand by Dylan Davis to race in the second half of the field behind fractions of :23.38 for the opening quarter and :46.23 for the half.

Kept out in about the six path passing the half-mile marker, the clean chestnut was asked to go a bit on the turn and tracked into it nicely three wide, following the move of his more-experienced entrymate Duration (Mitole). Steered out to the grandstand side in upper stretch, Strategic Focus sustained his run to hit the front five off the inside at the entrance to the final furlong and edged clear late to best the well-backed 4-year-old Hop Sing (Curlin), a big-figure second at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 where he was more or less on even terms at the wire with Duration, who was officially fourth.

Strategic Focus is a full-brother to Klaravich's Headline Numbers, a $325,000 KEESEP grad who earned the first stakes victory of her career in the Top Flight Stakes at Aqueduct on Apr. 12. The winner's dam is a full-sister to three-time graded winner Curlin's Approval, the dam of the Brown-conditioned Praetor (Into Mischief), recently third in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. Curlin's Mistress is also a half-sister to one-time MGSP 'TDN Rising Star' Apologynotaccepted (Fusaichi Pegasus).

Bred on a similar cross to GI Churchill Downs Stakes winner Gun Pilot, Strategic Focus has a yearling half-brother by Authentic and Curlin's Mistress is also the dam of a filly foal by Authentic foaled Feb. 14 already named Valentine Mistress.

4th-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 4-19, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:34.99, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
STRATEGIC FOCUS, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Curlin's Mistress, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Withmom'sapproval, by With Approval
3rd Dam: Wonderful Mom, by Rexson
Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Klaravich Stables Inc; B-Alter's Racing Stables Inc (KY); T-Chad C Brown.